Federal prosecutors have issued grand jury subpoenas to several high-profile Minnesota officials as part of an investigation into whether public statements made by state and local leaders interfered with federal immigration enforcement.
According to The Associated Press, the subpoenas were served Tuesday and are connected to a broader inquiry by the Trump administration into potential obstruction of federal authorities. Those receiving subpoenas reportedly include Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, and officials from Ramsey and Hennepin counties. All are members of the Democratic Party.
Focus of the Investigation
A person familiar with the matter told the AP that prosecutors are examining whether officials violated a federal conspiracy statute by allegedly obstructing immigration enforcement through their public statements. The investigation does not appear to center on physical interference with federal agents, but rather on rhetoric and public criticism following a recent immigration operation.
Federal authorities have not publicly detailed the specific statements under scrutiny, but the inquiry comes amid heightened tensions between federal immigration officials and local leaders in Minnesota.
Political Context and Officials’ Responses
Gov. Walz and Mayor Frey have both described the investigation as politically motivated. Walz, who was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in the 2024 election opposing President Donald Trump, rejected the premise of the probe.
“The Justice Department investigation, sparked by calls for accountability in the face of violence, chaos and the killing of Renee Good, does not seek justice,” Walz said. “My focus has always been protecting the people of this state, not protecting myself.”
Frey similarly criticized the investigation, calling it an effort to intimidate him for opposing federal actions in Minneapolis. At the same time, he said he plans to cooperate with investigators and maintains he acted lawfully. In an interview with ABC News, Frey said he did nothing wrong.
Protests and Federal Response
The investigation unfolds against the backdrop of sustained protests in Minneapolis following President Trump’s decision to deploy thousands of federal agents to the city in early January. Demonstrations intensified after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on Jan. 7.
Since that incident, protests have increased in size and frequency. One demonstration disrupted services at a Minnesota church, and the Trump administration has characterized many of the protesters as “professional agitators.”
On Saturday, the Pentagon ordered 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota should the situation escalate. A Defense Department official said, “We are taking prudent steps to prepare active-duty Army forces. This doesn’t mean they will deploy; we are preparing options.”
The White House told The Washington Post that it is standard practice for the Pentagon “to be prepared for any decision the President may or may not make.”
Possible Legal and Political Implications
President Trump has warned that he may invoke the Insurrection Act if state and local officials fail to stop what he has described as “insurrectionists” attacking ICE agents and facilities. Such a move would significantly expand federal authority to deploy military forces domestically.
For now, the investigation remains ongoing, and no charges have been announced. The subpoenas signal an escalating conflict between the federal government and Democratic-led jurisdictions over immigration enforcement, public speech, and the limits of federal power.
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