(Minneapolis, January 17, 2026) — The Justice Department is investigating Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over an alleged conspiracy to impede federal immigration agents, escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders in the state, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.
The investigation centers on statements made by Walz and Frey regarding the deployment of thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents to the Minneapolis region in recent weeks.
- The Justice Department is investigating Minnesota’s governor and mayor.
- The probe stems from their public statements regarding federal immigration enforcement.
- Subpoenas are likely to be issued as part of the investigation, sources said.
- The move is the latest in a series of investigations targeting political opponents of the Trump administration.
The investigation, according to a U.S. official, stems from statements Walz and Frey have made about the thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents deployed to the Minneapolis region in recent weeks. Sources familiar with the matter said subpoenas are likely to be issued. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.
“This is an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, our local law enforcement, and our residents against the chaos and danger this Administration has brought to our streets,” Frey said in a statement to CBS News. “I will not be intimidated. My focus will remain where it’s always been: keeping our city safe.”
Walz released a statement saying, “Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic. The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.”
Nearly 3,000 federal immigration agents have been dispatched to Minneapolis, with the stated objective of arresting individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally and investigating allegations of fraud in Minnesota. The Department of Homeland Security has described the deployment as the largest operation in its history.
The large-scale presence of federal agents has triggered widespread local backlash, sparking protests and clashes, particularly after the killing of Minnesota resident Renee Good by an ICE officer last week. Walz and Frey, both Democrats, have vocally denounced the federal deployment, accusing agents of creating chaos and undermining public safety through aggressive tactics.
Earlier this week, Frey said the federal deployment had created a situation that was “not sustainable.” “We’re in a position right now where we have residents that are asking the very limited number of police officers that we have to fight ICE agents on the street,” Frey said. “We cannot be at a place right now in America where we have two governmental entities that are literally fighting one another.”
Walz and Frey have called for protests to remain peaceful, with the governor urging Minnesotans not to “fan the flames of chaos” in a message posted on X Thursday.
Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X Friday, “A reminder to all those in Minnesota: No one is above the law.” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who visited Minneapolis with FBI Director Kash Patel on Friday, appeared to reference the investigation earlier this week, writing on X, “Walz and Frey- I’m focused on stopping YOU from your terrorism by whatever means necessary. This is not a threat. It’s a promise.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday said, “Mayor Frey and Governor Walz have to get their city under control. They are encouraging impeding and assault against our law enforcement which is a federal crime, a felony.” Noem has argued that rhetoric from Walz and Frey “perpetuated” violence directed at federal officers and undermined public trust in law enforcement.
The federal inquiry is focused on 18 U.S.C. § 372, which makes it a crime for two or more people to conspire to prevent federal officers from carrying out their official duties through “force, intimidation or threats,” according to a U.S. official. The statute has historically been used in cases involving coordinated efforts to obstruct federal officials, but public criticism of federal policy has generally been considered protected speech unless it involves direct coordination or incitement to obstruct law enforcement.
Why It Matters
This investigation represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders who have criticized its immigration policies. The probe raises questions about the extent to which the Justice Department will intervene in local matters and the potential for politically motivated investigations. The use of a federal statute typically reserved for cases involving direct obstruction of law enforcement to target political opponents could set a precedent with broad implications for federal-state relations and the limits of free speech.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by CBS News and added independent analysis and context.
