Minnesota Dems who received DOJ subpoenas say justice system is being weaponized

Minnesota Democrats who were issued grand jury subpoenas as part of a federal investigation into an alleged conspiracy to obstruct or impede federal law enforcement during ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations are now speaking out, saying the justice system has been weaponized against them.

The criticism comes after the Justice Department and FBI subpoenaed six authorities on Tuesday, including the Governor’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office and the Minneapolis Mayor.

“Less than two weeks ago, federal agents shot and killed a Minnesotan in broad daylight. Now, instead of seriously investigating the murder of Renee Good, Trump is weaponizing the justice system against any leader who dares oppose him,” Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said. he said in a statement: He added that his office had received a subpoena for “records and documents relating to the work of my office regarding federal immigration enforcement.”

FBI DIRECTOR PATEL WARNED ELECT OFFICIALS THAT ‘NO ONE’ IS EXEMPTED FROM FEDERAL AUDIT DUE TO THE MINNESOTA INVESTIGATION

“Let’s be clear about why this is happening: Donald Trump is going after the people of Minnesota, and I’m standing in his way,” Ellison added. “I will not be intimidated and I will not stop working to protect Minnesotans from Trump’s campaign of retaliation and revenge.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz he said it from his own mouth expression “The State of Minnesota will not be drawn into political theater.”

“This Justice Department investigation, sparked by violence, chaos and a call for accountability in the killing of Renee Good, does not seek justice. It is a partisan distraction. Minnesotans are more interested in safety and peace than baseless legal tactics aimed at intimidating public officials who stand shoulder to shoulder with their communities,” Walz said.

“My focus has always been to protect the people of this state, not to protect myself. Families are afraid. Kids are afraid to go to school. Small businesses are hurting. A mother is dead and those responsible have not yet been held accountable. This is where the federal government’s energies should be directed: toward restoring trust, accountability, and true law and order, not political retaliation,” Walz said. “Minnesota will not be pushed into silence, and neither will I.”

WHITE HOUSE SLAMS MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS AND WALZ AFTER GOVERNOR’S ‘DIRECT CALL’ TO TRUMP

Federal agents fire pepper balls at protesters outside an ICE facility during a demonstration against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 11, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (Mustafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“When the federal government uses its power as a weapon to intimidate local leaders into doing their jobs, every American should be concerned,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said. He wrote to X. “We should not live in a country where federal law enforcement is used to play politics or suppress local voices with which they disagree.”

“It’s ridiculous that Tim Walz, who smears heroic ICE officers as ‘Gestapo’ and declares Minnesota is at ‘war against the federal government,’ complains about division even though he’s the one doing it,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News.

Law enforcement members work at the scene after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent during federal operations in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, 2026. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

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“Tim Walz must stop defending illegal criminal aliens and work with the Trump Administration to remove these perverts from American communities,” he said.

Fox News’ David Spunt, Patrick Ward and Alexis McAdams contributed to this report.