DOJ Probes Walz and Frey for Alleged Obstruction

Criminal investigation into Minnesota’s leaders over alleged interference with federal immigration efforts

DOJ Opens Criminal Probe of Minnesota’s Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Frey Over Alleged Obstruction of Federal Agents

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to determine whether they unlawfully impeded federal immigration enforcement efforts, multiple U.S. news outlets report. The inquiry comes as tensions escalate between local Democratic leaders and federal authorities over a large ICE and Border Patrol deployment in the Twin Cities area.

Justice Department officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the probe focuses on whether Walz and Frey conspired to obstruct thousands of ICE officers carrying out their duties; a potential violation of federal statute 18 U.S.C. § 372, which criminalizes conspiracies to impede federal officers. Subpoenas have been prepared for both officials, though it’s unclear if they have yet been served.

Both leaders have strongly condemned the investigation as politically motivated retaliation. In a social media post, Walz accused the Trump administration of “weaponizing the justice system”, calling such tactics “authoritarian.” He also highlighted that no federal investigation has targeted the ICE agent who fatally shot Renée Good, an incident that sparked widespread protests. Mayor Frey described the probe as “an obvious attempt to intimidate me” for defending Minneapolis residents and local law enforcement amid federal operations.