WASHINGTON, January 21, 2026 – The FBI is carrying out President Donald Trump’s directive to fully enforce the law, even when it comes to elected officials, following the Justice Department’s issuance of grand jury subpoenas to five Minnesota government offices on Tuesday.
Federal Scrutiny Extends to Minnesota Officials
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A probe is underway to determine if state leaders conspired to obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
- FBI Director Kash Patel affirmed the agency’s commitment to upholding the law without exception.
- Subpoenas were served to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and other state officials.
- The investigation centers on potential interference with federal immigration operations.
- The Justice Department is seeking records and communications related to the alleged obstruction.
“No one – elected official, private citizen or otherwise – gets to impede and obstruct a law enforcement investigation. No one,” FBI Director Kash Patel stated Tuesday on “Hannity.” This strong declaration comes as the Justice Department investigates whether Minnesota officials conspired to hinder federal immigration enforcement operations.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Gov. Tim Walz are at the center of a federal probe into impeding law enforcement. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Escalation of Federal Enforcement
The subpoenas, served by the FBI, seek records and communications tied to the alleged effort to obstruct immigration enforcement. This investigation follows a significant increase in immigration enforcement operations across the Twin Cities, authorized by the Trump administration. Approximately 3,000 federal immigration officers were deployed to the region—a substantial number considering the Minneapolis Police Department consists of roughly 600 officers.
The timing of the probe also follows the January 7 shooting death of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. The incident sparked widespread protests throughout Minnesota, resulting in several clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.
State Leaders Respond
Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both vocal opponents of the federal enforcement operations, have publicly responded to the subpoenas. Walz, who previously ran against President Trump in the 2024 presidential race, dismissed the subpoenas as a “partisan distraction” and “political retaliation.” He stated on X, “The State of Minnesota will not be drawn into political theater.”
Mayor Frey echoed this sentiment, accusing the federal government of using its power to intimidate local leaders. “We shouldn’t live in a country where federal law enforcement is used to play politics or crack down on local voices they disagree with,” he wrote on X.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison also received a subpoena and characterized the investigation as “highly irregular,” noting its timing coincided with his office filing a lawsuit against the administration regarding its actions in Minnesota. He asserted on X, “Trump is weaponizing the justice system against any leader who dares to stand up to him.”
A protester confronts a Homeland Security officer during a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a fatal shooting by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 11. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
