“The only person not being investigated is the federal agent who shot her”
The Justice Department is planning to issue subpoenas for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as part of a Walz criminal investigation alleging the two Democratic officials impeded federal law enforcement by publicly criticizing it, two people familiar with the matter confirmed Friday.
The investigation stems from statements Walz and Frey made after an ICE officer fatally shot Renée Good through the window of her SUV last week as she monitored a federal immigration operation. The officer who fired the shot is not under criminal investigation.
“The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her,” Walz said in a statement Friday evening.
Public Statements Under Review
The subpoenas suggest the Justice Department is examining whether the governor’s and mayor’s public statements disparaging the surge of immigration officers amount to criminal conspiracy to impede a federal investigation — the same statute used to charge protesters who have attempted to block ICE officers.
Walz and Frey had said they feared the Justice Department was not conducting a fair probe into Good’s death. Administration officials responded that Minnesota’s Democratic leaders were “corrupt and can’t be trusted.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the situation on social media Wednesday, after a second person was shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
“Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement. It’s disgusting,” Blanche wrote. “Walz and Frey — I’m focused on stopping YOU from your terrorism by whatever means necessary. This is not a threat. It’s a promise.”
Legal Framework Clarified
Earlier this year, the Justice Department directed federal prosecutors nationwide to investigate and potentially bring criminal charges against state and local officials who do not cooperate with the president’s deportation plans. A memo to department employees explained that the Constitution’s supremacy clause “requires state and local actors to comply with the Executive Branch’s immigration enforcement initiatives.”
Legal experts confirmed that the supremacy clause, which establishes federal law as supreme over conflicting state laws, has not previously been interpreted to criminalize public criticism of federal actions.
“Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic,” Walz said.
Frey called the subpoenas “an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis.”
“I will not be intimidated,” he added.
Related Developments
Late Friday, U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez barred immigration agents from arresting people peacefully protesting in Minneapolis. The order also instructed agents not to use pepper spray and other “nonlethal munitions” against peaceful demonstrators, and prohibited stopping vehicles simply for following agents’ cars.
Minnesota’s attorney general this week sued the federal government over the surge of officers, calling it an unconstitutional “federal invasion.”
President Trump said Thursday he may invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy the U.S. military in Minnesota to address the protesters.
Neither Walz nor Frey had been served with subpoenas by early Friday evening, their spokespeople said.
Developing.
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