But they keep using human rights and freedom of speech as pretexts, asserting that these organizations have not committed any crime within their territories,” the memo says.

Source: https://theintercept.com/2023/12/10/india-sikhs-leaked-memo-us-canada/

For Republicans, the investigations into Clarence Thomas and his friendship with Harlan Crow, a Texas billionaire, are just pretexts for an attack on the legitimacy of the Supreme Court.

Source: https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2023/05/14/jamelle-bouie-clarence-thomas-cant/

Russian president Vladimir Putin offers familiar, insultingly spurious pretexts to international press conferences, the well-worn “pre-emptive strike” analysis.

Source: https://eastbayexpress.com/come-and-see/