Subpoenas have been authorized for Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as the Justice Department examines whether their actions and statements interfered with federal immigration enforcement.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A federal grand jury has issued subpoenas for Tim Walz and Jacob Frey as part of a Justice Department investigation into an alleged conspiracy to obstruct federal immigration agents, according to reporting by CBS News.
The subpoenas, which have not yet been formally served as of Friday evening, were authorized in connection with an inquiry focused on whether state and local officials violated federal law by impeding Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minnesota. CNN reported that a person familiar with the matter confirmed a grand jury approved subpoenas for both men, though neither office had received notice by the end of the week.
According to CBS News, the investigation centers on a federal statute, 18 U.S.C. § 372, which makes it a crime for two or more people to conspire to prevent federal officers from carrying out their duties through force, intimidation, or threats. The law has historically been applied in cases involving coordinated efforts to obstruct federal officials, particularly where violence or direct interference is alleged. Legal sources cited by CBS noted that public criticism of federal policy is generally protected speech unless it involves coordination or incitement to obstruct law enforcement activity.
The probe follows public remarks by Todd Blanche, who earlier this week signaled potential Justice Department action against Walz and Frey. In a message posted on X, Blanche wrote that he was focused on stopping the two officials “by whatever means necessary,” adding that his statement was “not a threat” but “a promise,” according to the post dated January 15, 2026.
The investigation unfolds amid heightened tensions in Minnesota after a surge in federal immigration enforcement tied to President Donald Trump’s deportation policy. Thousands of federal agents were deployed to the Minneapolis region, triggering large demonstrations following the fatal shooting of activist Renee Good. Authorities have said Good attempted to run over an ICE agent and was shot during the encounter, a claim that sparked days of protests across the city.
During a press conference after the shooting, Frey publicly told ICE agents to leave Minneapolis, using profane language that was widely circulated on social media. In recent weeks, both Frey and Walz urged residents to protest the federal presence and criticized the deployment of agents to the state.
As unrest continued, both officials appeared to temper their rhetoric. Walz posted a message on X calling on the president and Minnesotans to “turn the temperature down” and urging against what he described as a “campaign of retribution.” Frey also said he would not escalate tensions, though he maintained his opposition to the federal operation.
Following reports of the subpoenas, both officials said the investigation was politically motivated. Walz, in a statement, accused the Justice Department of targeting political opponents and said the federal agent involved in the shooting of Good was not under investigation. Frey, speaking to CBS News, said he would “not be intimidated,” describing the probe as an attempt to pressure him for opposing the administration’s actions in Minneapolis.
The Justice Department has not publicly commented on the timing of the subpoenas or the next steps in the investigation. Officials have said the inquiry remains ongoing as prosecutors determine whether the conduct of state and local leaders crossed the threshold from political opposition into unlawful interference with federal law enforcement.
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