The Justice Department on Friday launched an investigation into Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly obstructing federal law enforcement officers in their state, per a senior administration official.
The big picture: The probe marks the Trump administration's latest escalation with local and state leaders in Minnesota, after an ICE agent shot and killed 37-year-old Minneapolis mother Renee Nicole Good.
- DOJ is specifically investigating alleged violations of 18 U.S. Code § 372, "Conspiracy to impede or injure officer," the official said.
- Walz' office said the governor had not yet received any notice from DOJ about the investigation, which was first reported by CBS.
What they're saying: "Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic," Walz said in a statement.
- "The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her."
State of play: Both Walz and Frey have been outspoken about the administration's actions following the killing and strongly condemned the presence of ICE officers in the state.
- Frey last week said ICE agents should "get the f*ck out" in response to the shooting and called the administration's defense of the officer "bullsh*t."
- Frey called the investigation "an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, local law enforcement, and residents" on X Friday night.
- "America depends on leaders that use integrity and the rule of law as the guideposts for governance," the mayor said in another X post. "Neither our city nor our country will succumb to this fear. We stand rock solid."
Catch up quick: President Trump on Thursday once again floated invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to Minnesota, unless state officials "stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the patriots of I.C.E."
- Walz encouraged Minnesotans to "protest loudly, urgently, but also peacefully" against ICE, including filming law enforcement to "establish a record of exactly what's happening in our communities."
Go deeper: How Trump could use the Insurrection Act to pummel Minnesota
Editor's note: This story has been updated with Jacob Frey's statement.
