Jan. 20 (UPI) — The U.S. Department of Justice served subpoenas to several Minnesota officials Tuesday, including Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and others for an alleged conspiracy to impede federal immigration officers.
Two Minnesota prosecutors, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, were sent similar subpoenas.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently accused Frey and Walz of “encouraging violence against law enforcement” and called their actions “terrorism.” But he provided no evidence of his claims.
Walz’s office told CBS News that it had received a subpoena. Walz said in a statement that the state would “not be drawn into political theater,” and said the Justice Department’s investigation is a “partisan distraction.”
“Minnesotans are more concerned with safety and peace than baseless legal tactics aimed at intimidating public servants standing shoulder to shoulder with their community,” he said.
Frey told CBS News that he also got the subpoena and said the Justice Department is pursuing him for disagreeing with the administration.
“When the federal government weaponizes its power to try to intimidate local leaders for doing their jobs, every American should be concerned,” Frey said. “We shouldn’t have to live in a country where people fear that federal law enforcement will be used to play politics or crack down on local voices they disagree with. In Minneapolis, we won’t be afraid. We know the difference between right and wrong, and, as Mayor, I’ll continue doing the job I was elected to do: keeping our community safe and standing up for our values.”
Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security sent about 3,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents to the Twin Cities. The Minneapolis Police Department has about 600 officers on staff.
The Justice Department investigation comes after it indicated it will not file charges against Jonathan Ross, an ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Nicole Good as she was in her car and amid a convoy of immigration officers.
The Justice Department has focused on Renee Good and her wife, Becca Good, alleging she used her vehicle as a weapon to carry out an act of terrorism. Local and state officials, and bystanders said Renee Good was trying to drive her vehicle away from the ICE officers.
“An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots. He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers,” a statement from ICE on Jan. 7 said.
Walz has ordered the Minnesota National Guard to be ready after Good’s killing prompted protests. “[On Jan. 8], I directed the National Guard to be ready should they be needed. They remain ready in the event they are needed to help keep the peace, ensure public safety and allow for peaceful demonstrations,” Walz said.
The Trump administration has been drawing federal prosecutors from other states to investigate Renee Good after several senior prosecutors quit in Minnesota rather than investigate her. Ten have been assigned from Michigan, The New York Times reported. The office was already short of staff because many quit when the administration offered buyouts and encouraged them to quit last year. The Times reported that the Justice Department plans to pull prosecutors from Michigan, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
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