In a dramatic escalation of the clash between the Trump administration and Democratic officials in Minnesota, the Department of Justice has issued criminal grand jury subpoenas to at least five top state and local leaders. Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty have all been ordered to testify before a federal grand jury and provide extensive documents related to their cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The subpoenas appear to be part of an investigation into whether state and local officials conspired to impede federal immigration enforcement operations in the state. The Trump administration has deployed hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to Minnesota, leading to over 10,000 arrests in recent weeks. These operations have been criticised by state and local leaders as a violent assault on the state and its residents.
Minnesota officials have sued the administration in an effort to stop the surge, alleging the operations are a politically motivated and unconstitutional attack. The subpoenas demand records and communications regarding immigration enforcement and instructions about cooperation with federal authorities, as well as any documents “relating to hindering, doxxing, identifying, or surveilling immigration officers.”
“When the federal government weaponizes its power to intimidate local leaders for doing their job, every American should be concerned,” said Mayor Frey in a statement. Ellison echoed these sentiments, accusing Trump of “weaponizing the justice system” against him and other officials “instead of seriously investigating” the killing of Renee Good, a local resident fatally shot by an ICE officer.
The escalating clash between the Trump administration and Minnesota’s Democratic leadership reflects the broader tensions over immigration enforcement and the role of state and local governments in resisting federal policies. As the investigation continues, the subpoenas have raised concerns about the politicization of the Justice Department and the potential consequences for officials who challenge the administration’s agenda.
