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Federal Probe Targets Walz and Frey for Immigration Comments
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, according to multiple American media reports. The probe focuses on whether the Democratic officials conspired to obstruct federal immigration enforcement through their public criticism of ICE operations in Minneapolis.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the investigation on social media, stating that 'no one in Minnesota is above the law'. The Justice Department alleges that both politicians made statements that could be interpreted as encouraging resistance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Background: The Renee Good Shooting
The investigation follows weeks of escalating tensions in Minneapolis after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent on January 7, 2026. Good, a mother of three, was shot in the head while attempting to drive away from agents. Video footage shows her vehicle moving backward and forward as ICE agents approached.
The Trump administration, particularly Vice President JD Vance and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has defended the agent's actions as self-defense. However, Mayor Frey immediately questioned this narrative after viewing the footage, stating 'This is clearly an attempt to intimidate me because I stand up for Minneapolis'.
Federal Court Intervention
In a significant development, U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez issued a preliminary injunction on January 16 restricting ICE operations in Minneapolis. The order prohibits agents from arresting peaceful protesters, using pepper spray against demonstrators, and stopping vehicles without reasonable suspicion of obstructing federal operations.
The judge gave the Department of Homeland Security 72 hours to comply with the new rules. The case was filed by Minneapolis residents before Good's shooting, alleging constitutional rights violations by federal agents.
Political Reactions and Implications
Governor Walz responded defiantly to the investigation, calling it 'an authoritarian strategy to use the justice system as a weapon against your opponents'. He noted that 'the only person not being investigated for Renee Good's shooting is the federal agent who shot her'.
The investigation represents an extraordinary escalation in tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders in Minnesota. It comes amid Operation Metro Surge, which has deployed nearly 3,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents to the Twin Cities area, resulting in over 2,400 undocumented immigrant arrests.
Both officials face potential charges under a federal statute prohibiting conspiracy to prevent federal officers from performing their duties through force, intimidation, or threats. The FBI continues to investigate Good's death while refusing cooperation with Minnesota state prosecutors.
As protests continue in subfreezing temperatures near the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, this investigation raises significant questions about the intersection of free speech, federal authority, and political retaliation in an increasingly polarized America.
