The U.S. Department of Justice served subpoenas on high-ranking Minnesota elected officials Tuesday, according to multiple media reports.
The reports say Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Attorney General Keith Ellison, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and other officials are required to appear before a federal grand jury investigating an alleged conspiracy to impede ICE officers.
The Justice Department did not respond to The Center Square’s email request for comment.
The news comes as protests over ICE operations throughout the Twin Cities increase after an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, 37, on Jan. 7.
Federal officials have claimed the officer shot in self-defense while Good was trying to attack him with her car.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of Homeland Security, said Good’s vehicle was “attempting to run over our law enforcement officers” and that an officer fired after fearing for his life. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the incident an “act of domestic terrorism.”
City and state leaders have disputed that account, saying ICE’s presence in the community has created chaos and harm. Since the shooting, Minneapolis and St. Paul have experienced widespread protests, school closures and violence.
The Twin Cities have also been embroiled in allegations of widespread welfare fraud, only adding to the tension.
A week ago, as previously reported by TCS, Ellison filed a joint suit with Frey and Her against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over ICE operations to halt what he described as an unlawful and unprecedented surge of ICE agents into the state.
Ellison labeled ICE operations as a politically motivated “federal invasion.” He alleged that the operation violates the Constitution, federal law, the 10th Amendment, and the Administrative Procedures Act.
