On an unknown date, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz were the subjects of a criminal investigation launched by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The investigation relates to the obstruction of federal law enforcement.
While a DOJ official anonymously reported to CNN that a grand jury issued subpoenas to Frey and Walz as it relates to the investigation, neither of them have received it as of the time of this writing, January 16.
Although Walz and Frey have denounced the disproportionate presence of federal immigration enforcement, which amounts to 3,000 agents as of January 16, as well as their unprofessional behavior (such as, but not limited to, raiding an incorrect address in Minneapolis), they have not taken known concrete measures to obstruct their activities. Walz and Frey have repeatedly called for peaceful protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. However, these facts did not stop Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche from making the extreme allegation that Walz and Frey are terrorists:
“Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement,” Blanche said in a post on X on Wednesday. “It’s disgusting. Walz and Frey – I’m focused on stopping YOU from your terrorism by whatever means necessary. This is not a threat. It’s a promise.”
CNN
Walz did not acknowledge the presence of any investigation, but fired back at the Trump administration, stating that the weaponization of the justice system is a “dangerous, authoritarian tactic.” Frey remarked on social media:
“This is an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, local law enforcement, and residents against the chaos and danger this Administration has brought to our city. I will not be intimidated.”
NPR
After the killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents, the agency has repeatedly caused chaos in Minneapolis. On January 16, a Minnesota federal judge had to rule that ICE agents may not attack peaceful protesters with pepper spray, or arrest them; it was also ruled that ICE agents do not have the right to stop or detain those in a vehicle without reasonable suspicion. Federal law enforcement has regularly violated these basic Constitutional protections.
The irony of accusing Frey and Walz of obstructing federal law enforcement is that the federal government has obstructed Minnesotan authorities from investigating the killing of Good. On January 15, Minnesota’s investigations agency complained that that the United States attorney’s office prevented it from joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from joining the investigation. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) stated that the FBI has taken sole leadership of the investigation, preventing the BCA from accessing “case materials, scene evidence or investigative interviews…” If there was no foul play in the killing of Good, as the Trump administration has suggested, it should have no reservation over a local investigation.
On January 20, additional subpoenas against the offices of St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Hennepin County, and Ramsey County were sent out. The subpoenas sought records, documents, and communications as they relate to federal immigration enforcement, “including any records tending to show a refusal to come to the aid of immigration officials.” This is despite Republicans’ claim to be in favor of states’ rights. Ellison and Her responded to these subpoenas with defiance.
