A federal judge has blocked an to subpoena Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state officials, calling it an effort to 鈥渉arass and retaliate against them.鈥�
In a ruling unsealed Monday, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schlitz found the 鈥渄ominant purpose鈥� of the subpoenas was to 鈥渃oerce Minnesota officials into assisting the federal government with enforcing civil immigration law and to harass and retaliate against them for failing to do so.鈥�
The subpoenas seeking records were served in January as part of an investigation into whether Walz and other officials obstructed or impeded law enforcement during a sweeping immigration operation in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. They were sent to the offices of Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and officials in Ramsey and Hennepin counties.
The ruling is the by the federal judiciary of Justice Department efforts to aggressively implement the Trump administration agenda in courts and target the president鈥檚 political adversaries through subpoenas and similar demands.
The judge ruled that there appeared to be 鈥渆xtremely weak to nonexistent鈥� connections between the information sought in the subpoenas and any possible criminal violation. The subpoenas seek materials 鈥渢hat largely if not entirely relate to constitutionally protected conduct,鈥� the judge wrote, noting that Minnesota has the legal right not to devote its resources to enforcing federal immigration law.
The Justice Department 鈥渋s not conducting a criminal investigation,鈥� the judge wrote, 鈥渂ut is instead using the grand jury process for other (unlawful) purposes.鈥�
The evidence that the subpoenas were issued for unlawful reasons is overwhelming, the judge said, arguing that the Justice Department 鈥渉as struggled 鈥� without success 鈥� to identify a single plausible investigatory justification鈥� for them.
The Justice Department didn鈥檛 immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Walz, in a statement, called the ruling 鈥渁 victory for the rule of law and our democracy.鈥�
鈥淭he U.S. Justice Department is pursuing criminal investigations into the President鈥檚 political opponents,鈥� said Walz, the 2024 Democratic nominee for vice president. 鈥淭his case was just one example of that, but we are seeing daily reminders of this administration鈥檚 lawlessness 鈥� in Minnesota and around the country. We all must continue to seek justice and uphold the rule of law.鈥�
Ellison said 鈥渋t should disturb every American that Donald Trump is weaponizing the criminal justice system against people he disagrees with.鈥�
The subpoenas 鈥渁 politically motivated retaliation against our city for lawfully standing up to ICE and fighting for our residents,鈥� Her said in a statement, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Frey said the investigation was 鈥渘ever about justice, law, and order, but the absence of it.”
鈥淪ubpoenaing political opponents because they spoke on behalf of their constituents violates the core tenets of our democracy and human decency,鈥� he said.
Frey also observed that criticizing government action is not a crime.
鈥淥ne of the defining strengths of our democracy is the ability to challenge those in power without fear of retribution. Elected officials have both the right and the responsibility to speak honestly about how government decisions affect the people they serve,鈥� he said.
Over the last year, judges have dismissed indictments against two prominent Trump foes, former and New York Attorney General Letitia James, and grand juries have repeatedly refused to return indictments sought by the Justice Department.
The moves reflect mounting public concerns that the Justice Department, an institution meant to make investigative and prosecution decisions independent of the White House, is being politicized under the current Trump administration.
Vice President JD Vance to investigate Walz and Ellison over allegations they failed to stop widespread social services fraud, though the department has not said whether it will open an investigation. Walz and Ellison have described those allegations as politically motivated and defended their efforts to combat fraud in Minnesota.
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