DOJ Subpoenas Target Minnesota Top Officials Over Immigration Obstruction Federal prosecutors issued grand‑jury subpoenas to Governor Tim Walz, Mayor Jacob Frey, Attorney General Keith Ellison, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and county prosecutors, seeking records on whether they impeded federal immigration actions through public statements and refusals to cooperate[1][3][4]. The subpoenas request extensive documentation, including a February 3 deadline for Frey’s office to produce materials that could show a refusal to aid ICE[1]. While the DOJ has not disclosed specific charges, sources say the probe could involve a conspiracy statute related to obstruction[1]. CNN notes the subpoenas had been issued but not yet formally served to Walz and Frey as of January 17[4].

Officials Denounce Probe as Partisan Weaponization of Justice System Governor Walz labeled the investigation a partisan distraction and an attempt to weaponize the Justice Department against political opponents[1][3]. Mayor Frey described the subpoenas as intimidation for opposing the Trump administration’s immigration policies[4]. Attorney General Ellison accused the federal government of using the justice system as a political weapon, echoing Walz’s criticism[3]. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted that “no one is above the law” in Minnesota, reinforcing the DOJ’s stance despite the officials’ objections[4].

Federal Immigration Surge Deploys Thousands, Prompting Local Tensions The immigration crackdown has placed thousands of federal officers in Minnesota, with 1,500 troops on standby and DHS reporting roughly 3,000 arrests during the recent surge[3]. Protests intensified after an ICE operation targeted a church, leading Bondi to warn state leaders to prevent lawlessness[3]. The DOJ simultaneously urged a judge to dismiss Minnesota’s lawsuit challenging the federal enforcement surge, calling the state’s claim legally frivolous[1]. Vice President JD Vance is slated to travel to Minneapolis for a roundtable with local leaders, underscoring continued federal attention[1].

Trump Administration Links Subpoenas to Broader Campaign Against Opponents In his second inaugural address, President Trump pledged to end what he called the “weaponization of the Justice Department,” framing the Minnesota subpoenas as part of a larger effort to target dissenters[2]. The article situates the Minnesota investigation among a sweeping crackdown on figures such as former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Senator Adam Schiff, illustrating a pattern of legal pressure on political adversaries[2]. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles acknowledged a “vengeance element” in the administration’s return, suggesting the subpoenas serve both legal and retaliatory purposes[2]. These statements contrast sharply with the officials’ claims of partisan persecution, highlighting a deepening federal‑state conflict over immigration enforcement.