The subpoenas suggest the Justice Department is examining whether Walz’s and Frey’s public statements disparaging the surge of officers and federal actions have amounted to criminal interference in law enforcement work. The law under which they are investigating the two officials, a federal statute on conspiracy to impede a federal investigation, is similar to the charges filed against protesters whom federal officials allege have attempted to block immigration officers as they do their work. On Wednesday, a man was shot in the leg by an Ice officer in Minneapolis. “Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement. “Weaponising the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic,” Walz said in a statement Saturday.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 17, 2026 04:03 UTC