Federal investigators are examining whether Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey obstructed federal immigration enforcement, marking a sharp escalation in the Trump administration’s response to unrest tied to ICE operations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The U.S. Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into Tim Walz and Jacob Frey, focusing on whether public statements and actions by the Minnesota governor and Minneapolis mayor interfered with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, according to reporting by CBS News.
The investigation comes after riots and sustained unrest erupted in Minnesota following a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation that deployed thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents to the Minneapolis region. According to CBS News, the probe centers on statements made by Walz and Frey that federal officials believe may amount to an alleged conspiracy to impede federal agents.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche publicly signaled his focus on the two officials earlier this week, posting on social media amid the unrest. “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,” Blanche wrote in a post dated January 15, 2026.
According to The Washington Post, the Justice Department has issued subpoenas to both Walz and Frey as part of the inquiry.
CBS News reported that multiple sources familiar with the matter described the investigation as an extraordinary escalation in the Trump administration’s clash with Democratic officials in Minnesota. One U.S. official told the outlet that investigators are examining statements made by Walz and Frey regarding the presence and actions of federal immigration agents in the state.
The deployment followed a series of ICE operations aimed at arresting illegal alien criminals, which federal officials say prompted violent protests and attacks on law enforcement in Minneapolis and surrounding areas.
Both Walz and Frey have publicly criticized the Trump administration for sending ICE agents to Minnesota. Frey, speaking during the unrest, said local residents were urging police to confront federal agents directly. “We’re in a position right now where we have residents that are asking the very limited number of police officers that we have to fight ICE agents on the street,” Frey said in remarks shared in a widely circulated video clip.
Walz, during a primetime address earlier this week, urged Minnesotans to follow, record, and document ICE agents, suggesting such information could later be used for prosecution, according to federal officials familiar with the speech.
The Justice Department has not publicly detailed the specific statutes under review but confirmed the investigation remains active. Federal officials have said the probe will determine whether the conduct of state and local leaders crossed the line from political opposition into unlawful interference with federal law enforcement.
Original article
Comments