A federal judge in Minnesota dismisses Department of Justice grand jury subpoenas issued during the Trump administration to Minnesota leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. The subpoenas, issued in January, were tied to a federal investigation that involved allegations related to local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and, according to some accounts, broader claims connecting Somali-related corruption to local politics.
Multiple outlets report that U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz ruled the subpoenas were issued for unlawful or improper reasons. The judge states there is “no doubt” the subpoenas were intended to harass political opponents or coerce elected officials into taking actions the federal government cannot directly require. The ruling quashes the subpoenas for Walz, Frey, and other Minnesota officials, including Attorney General Keith Ellison and mayors and local leaders named in the filings.
Some reports also describe the case in the context of the administration’s immigration crackdown and related political rhetoric in Minnesota. Outlets note that the administration has not responded publicly to the decision, and the officials affected characterize the ruling as recognition of political motivation and misuse of the subpoena process.
