A federal judge has quashed six grand jury subpoenas issued by the Trump administration against Minnesota state and local government offices, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz ruled that the subpoenas were retaliatory and unlawful, stating that the Justice Department used them to coerce Minnesota officials into cooperating with immigration enforcement after those officials filed a lawsuit to block Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration operation.
The subpoenas targeted the Minnesota governor's office, the Minnesota attorney general, two mayors' offices, and the boards of commissioners for Ramsey and Hennepin counties. Judge Schiltz criticized the use of grand jury proceedings to pressure political opponents, calling it "a blatantly unlawful and unethical use of the grand-jury process." He noted that the Justice Department failed to provide a plausible investigatory justification for the subpoenas.
Governor Walz described the ruling as a victory for the rule of law, while Ellison stated that it should concern all Americans that the former president is allegedly using the criminal justice system against political opponents. Mayor Frey characterized the subpoenas as politically motivated retaliation against officials advocating for their constituents. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment.