Federal judge stops U.S. probe into Minnesota governor and other Democratic officials

A federal judge has stopped the U.S. government's investigations into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and other Democratic officials, ruling that the subpoenas were issued for unconstitutional reasons. U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz stated in a published order that the subpoenas were issued with the predominant purpose of forcing state officials to aid federal immigration enforcement and to "harass" them. The judge found "overwhelming" evidence that the subpoenas were issued for improper motives, while the Justice Department failed to provide a plausible justification for the investigations.

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the subpoenas were issued for unconstitutional reasons

The investigations, initiated in January, targeted Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and other authorities. The Justice Department had claimed it was investigating potential obstruction of immigration law enforcement. This action followed a large-scale immigration operation in Minnesota in late 2025 and early 2026, which involved over 3,000 federal agents at times. Walz and other Democratic politicians had sharply criticized the operation, with Walz calling it a "campaign of organized brutality."

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the predominant purpose was to force officials in Minnesota to support the federal government in enforcing immigration law and to 'harass' them and retaliate against them

Governor Walz, a prominent opponent of former President Trump, described the judge's decision as a victory for the rule of law and democracy. Attorney General Ellison called the ruling a rare and clear step by the court. The ruling invalidates the subpoenas and highlights constitutional limits on the federal government's power to compel states to implement federal law. The case underscores the tension between federal immigration policy and state-level resistance.

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overwhelming