The U.S. Department of Justice is looking into whether Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey obstructed federal immigration enforcement through their public statements, as per sources familiar with the matter. The inquiry is centered on a potential breach of conspiracy laws, the sources reported anonymously to The Associated Press.
CBS News was the first to report on the investigation. Governor Walz responded to the reports by criticizing the perceived weaponization of the justice system against political adversaries. He mentioned U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, along with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, in his statement.
Governor Walz’s office stated that they have not been formally notified of any investigation. Mayor Frey, on the other hand, dismissed the investigation as an intimidation tactic and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the safety of Minneapolis residents.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized on social media that no one is above the law, without commenting directly on the investigation. The probe coincides with an extensive immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis and St. Paul, resulting in over 2,500 arrests, following the fatal shooting of Renee Good.
Despite urging peaceful protests, Governor Walz encouraged citizens to document encounters between ICE agents and the public for potential legal action. Both Walz and Frey have called for an end to the ICE deployment, criticizing it as a dangerous and chaotic operation.
Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche attributed the confrontations to Walz and Frey, expressing a commitment to halting them using all necessary measures.