Justice Dept. investigates Minn. Gov Walz, Mayor Frey

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has confirmed that he’s under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. According to multiple reports, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is also subject to possible subpoenas concerning allegations of a conspiracy to impede or obstruct federal operations.

Governor Walz posted a statement on social media, “Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic. The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.”

By 8pm ET Friday, US Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on social media, “A reminder to all those in Minnesota: No one is above the law.” The post appears to confirm the reporting that both Governor Walz and Mayor Frey are under investigation. As of 7pm ET Friday, neither Walz nor Frey confirmed they had actually been served the subpoenas for the investigation.

The Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly insisted that s surge of federal officers to Minnesota was necessary and that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) are merely taking the worst of the worst criminals off the streets.

In Minneapolis, on January 7, an ICE officer shot Renee Good. According to new reports, she was shot at least 3 times, if not four times, twice in the chest, once in the arm, and possibly the side of her head. On January 14, there was another shooting tied to a traffic stop.

Both Governor Walz and Mayor Frey have urged their citizens to protest against operations in their neighborhoods, but to protest peacefully.

In a statement, Mayor Jacob Frey said, “This is an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, our local law enforcement, and our residents against the chaos and danger this Administration has brought to our streets. I will not be intimidated. My focus will remain where it’s always been: keeping our city safe. America depends on leaders that use integrity and the rule of law as the guideposts for governance. Neither our city nor our country will succumb to this fear. We stand rock solid.”

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a First Amendment group, noted, “If criticism of government policy can be rebranded as a crime, then constitutional protections become meaningless and the government becomes unaccountable. That is precisely the danger the First Amendment is meant to prevent, and it is a line no administration may cross.”

Earlier on Friday, as he left for Mar-A-Lago Florida, President Donald Trump reiterated this threat to invoke the Insurrection Act against Minnesota, “Well, the Insurrection Act, which has been used by 48% of the presidents. As of this moment, the Insurrection Act. Also, if you look, I believe it was Bush, the elder Bush. He used it, I think, 28 times. It’s been used a lot. And if I needed it, I’d use it. I don’t think there’s any reason right now to use it, but if I needed it, I’d use it. It’s, very powerful.”

Late Friday, a US federal judge ruled that the federal officers involving in the immigration operations cannot use tear gas or detain peaceful protestors.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development also announced an investigation into Minnesota’s housing policy. “Under the feckless leadership of Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota has become a Third World failed state, where criminals engage in massive, unchecked fraud and decent Minnesotans are held captive to the riotous impulses of left-wing cultural arsonists,”said Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor. “Its largest city, Minneapolis, has fared no better under its clownish mayor, Jacob Frey, whose government may be engaging in unlawful discrimination by prioritizing Minneapolis residents for housing based on race and national origin rather than need. The Trump Administration will ensure Minneapolis fully complies with the Fair Housing Act.”