[ad_1]
Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have impeded federal immigration enforcement through public statements they have made, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The investigation focused on potential violation of a conspiracy statute, the people said.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a pending investigation by name.
CBS News first reported the investigation.
In response to reports of the investigation, Walz said in a statement: “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.”
A week after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis, another ICE-involved shooting in the city is fuelling growing tension between federal law enforcement and protesters. As President Donald Trump threatens to bring in the National Guard, Andrew Chang explains ICE’s heightened presence in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
Images provided by The Canadian Press, Reuters and Getty Images
The governor was referring to U.S. senators Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, Democrats from Michigan and Arizona, respectively, who made a video statement urging members of the military to resist illegal orders; and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whom Trump has criticized as being too hesitant to raise interest rates.
Walz’s office said it has not received any notice of an investigation.
“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.
“I will not be intimidated. My focus will remain where it’s always been: keeping our city safe.”
‘No one is above the law,’ AG says
The Justice Department declined to comment. But U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted a message on social media platform X on Friday evening, saying: “A reminder to all those in Minnesota; No one is above the law.”
The investigation comes during a weekslong immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and St. Paul that the Department of Homeland Security has called its largest enforcement operation, resulting in more than 2,500 arrests.
The operation has become more confrontational since the fatal shooting of Renee Good on Jan. 7. State and local officials have repeatedly told protesters to remain peaceful.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened on social media to invoke the Insurrection Act, allowing him to deploy troops as protests against ICE agents persist in Minneapolis. The act would enable the military and National Guard troops to perform law enforcement functions typically done by local police.
Although he has urged protesters to remain peaceful, Walz also has encouraged citizens to record video of any arrests or other encounters between ICE agents and members of the public in order to create a database for potential “future prosecution” of wrongdoing by law enforcement.
Walz and Frey have repeatedly demanded that Trump end the ICE deployment, saying the militarized deportation drive was a reckless operation aimed at generating chaos, fear and headlines, and was putting civilians in danger.
Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche earlier this week blamed Walz and Frey for the confrontations and said he was focused on stopping them by “whatever means necessary.”
[ad_2]
Source link