Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and several other top Democrats as part of a Justice Department investigation into whether state and local officials obstructed federal immigration enforcement and interfered with ICE operations.
The subpoenas were served to Walz, Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. Prosecutors are examining whether Minnesota Democrats coordinated to block ICE agents from carrying out federal orders — and whether state officials ignored a massive fraud scheme tied to Somali-run nonprofits accused of siphoning U.S. taxpayer dollars.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly warned Walz and Frey last week that the administration was “focused on stopping you from your terrorism by whatever means necessary.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also accused both men of “fostering an environment of hostility toward federal officers.”
The investigation follows the Jan. 7 shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old far-left activist who attempted to ram an ICE officer with her SUV during an immigration operation in Minneapolis. The officer fired in self-defense, according to federal officials, and suffered internal bleeding to his torso after being hit by the vehicle. DHS confirmed that Ross was treated at a hospital and later released, but remains in hiding following death threats.
The shooting sparked riots in Minneapolis and political outrage from Democrats who accused ICE of excessive force. President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to restore order, saying he would not allow “professional agitators and insurrectionists” to attack federal agents.
Governor Walz blasted the federal subpoenas as politically motivated. “Weaponizing the justice system against your opponents is an authoritarian tactic,” he wrote on X. “The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.”
Mayor Frey accused the Trump administration of trying to intimidate him, calling the investigation “an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, local law enforcement, and residents against the chaos this administration has brought to our city.” He added, “I will not be intimidated. My focus remains where it’s always been: keeping our city safe.”
Minnesota Democrats quickly circled the wagons. Sen. Amy Klobuchar called the subpoenas “an assault on our democracy and the rule of law,” claiming that “speaking out against what our government is doing is not a crime in America.” Reps. Betty McCollum and Angie Craig accused the Trump administration of “political retribution.” Craig wrote, “It’s always been about political retribution for President Trump and his allies. I’m standing with @GovTimWalz and @MayorFrey.”
National Democrats joined in. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer posted that “in Donald Trump’s America you get a bogus investigation for doing your job.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren warned that Democrats “will not be bullied into submission.”
Meanwhile, a federal judge has imposed new limits on ICE enforcement tactics in Minnesota. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that agents may not arrest or detain individuals “engaged in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity,” a decision critics say could further tie the hands of law enforcement as violent unrest continues in the Twin Cities.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rejected claims that the protests were peaceful, saying “law enforcement officers are being assaulted, their vehicles are being attacked, and city leaders are standing by doing nothing.” Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed that sentiment, posting: “A reminder to all those in Minnesota: No one is above the law.”
The subpoenas come at a volatile moment for Minnesota politics. The death of Renee Good has become a rallying point for progressive activists, while Trump administration officials have described the state as a “test case” for whether local governments can openly defy federal immigration law.
As the investigation unfolds, federal agents continue to face violent resistance on the ground. ICE officers have reported being attacked with rocks, fireworks, and improvised weapons during recent operations. Officials say several agents have been injured.
“This isn’t about politics,” one senior DHS official said. “It’s about enforcing federal law and protecting the men and women who are risking their lives to do it.”
Neither the Department of Justice nor the governor’s office responded to requests for comment by press time.
