A federal grand jury has issued subpoenas to five prominent Democratic officials in Minnesota as the Justice Department opens two parallel investigations that have further strained relations between state leaders and the Trump administration.
Obstruction Inquiry Targets Immigration Enforcement Tactics
The subpoenas were delivered to the offices of Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. Federal prosecutors are examining whether state and local policies interfered with Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations during a recent federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
Though the subpoenas did not specify potential charges, the inquiry marks an escalation of a probe disclosed last week and focuses on whether state officials intentionally hindered thousands of federal officers deployed to the region. DHS has reported roughly 3,000 arrests in the last month and claims ICE detained around 10,000 individuals statewide over the past year.
Campaign Finance Probe Adds New Layer of Political Risk
A second investigation, initiated from Washington, is reviewing campaign donations linked to individuals accused of misusing public assistance funds. Federal officials are assessing whether campaigns – including those of Walz and Representative Ilhan Omar – benefited from contributions tied to fraudulent nonprofit operations.
Records show Walz’s campaign accepted more than $8,000 from donors later implicated in fraud probes between 2017 and 2022. Omar received $5,400 in 2021 and later redirected the money to food assistance groups, while former state senate candidate Omar Fateh returned over $12,000 in contributions as indictments surfaced. FBI public corruption investigators have stated they have not found evidence of campaign misconduct to date.
Federal Surge Sparks Protests and Heightened Public Anxiety
The investigations come during a volatile period for Minnesota as DHS’s “Operation Metro Surge” continues to draw public backlash. The deployment of thousands of federal officers, along with an additional 1,500 reportedly on standby, has sparked widespread protest and legal battles.
Public anger intensified after a January 7 shooting in Minneapolis in which an unarmed 37-year-old mother, Renee Good, was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent. The incident triggered ongoing demonstrations and calls for accountability. While President Donald Trump expressed sympathy for the family, federal officials maintain the agent acted in self-defense.
Local leaders have condemned the surge, describing it as heavy-handed and destabilizing. The state of Minnesota has filed suit to halt the deployments, while Mayor Frey publicly demanded federal agents withdraw from the city.
Exchanges Grow More Heated as Accusations Fly
The subpoenaed officials have dismissed the Justice Department’s actions as politically driven. Walz labeled the probe “a partisan distraction,” while Ellison described the subpoena process as “highly irregular.” Frey accused federal authorities of attempting to intimidate municipal governments.
Top Justice Department figures have responded in stark terms. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has accused Minnesota officials of encouraging unrest and has vowed to take action against anyone interfering with federal officers. The department has also threatened criminal charges for obstruction.
Community Impact and Allegations of Profiling
Local law enforcement leaders have raised concerns about racial profiling during federal operations. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley reported that off-duty officers of color were asked to present proof of citizenship during stops. Community organizations say the federal presence has sown fear in immigrant neighborhoods, affecting school attendance, business activity, and access to services.
Activist demonstrations have also targeted public figures such as David Easterwood, a religious leader who concurrently serves as the acting ICE field office director in the state. Protests at his church prompted the administration to accuse demonstrators of civil rights violations, while Trump condemned the activists as agitators.
Legal Notes and Ongoing Inquiries
Beyond the major investigations, federal authorities are pursuing additional cases stemming from the immigration crackdown. A judge recently ordered the release of a Venezuelan family detained without a warrant, and the FBI has opened a separate case involving theft from government vehicles tied to an earlier ICE operation.
Minnesota’s political leadership and the White House appear firmly entrenched, with no indication that either side intends to de-escalate.
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