President Donald Trump's Justice Department made another massive escalation in the unrest in Minnesota as they announced a federal investigation into Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, allegedly on the basis that their remarks criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in the Twin Cities were part of a plot to obstruct federal law enforcement.
The move follows days of fury and protests after an ICE agent fatally shot 37-year-old mom of three Renee Nicole Good, with several videos from multiple angles capturing the agent firing his weapon multiple times at her head at close range through an open car window as she tried to drive out of the way of the agents boxing her in. Since then, raids in Minneapolis have intensified, with multiple cases of protesters being injured and hospitalized after agents used riot control weapons on them.
The report of the federal investigation into Democratic officials prompted immediate outcry, and accusations of further abuse of power by the Trump administration.
"Donald Trump’s corrupted DOJ will stop at nothing — including ridiculous theories unsupported by facts — in pursuing his revenge agenda," wrote Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) on X. "No one is safe from his abuse of power. It’s sick."
"Let’s call this what it is: a disgusting abuse of power and a farce," wrote Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL). "As his agents terrorize Minnesotans, as prices rise, as he fails to deliver for Americans, he is also weaponizing the DOJ against his perceived enemies. This is not a banana republic and justice will prevail."
"Wild how fast Trump's Department of Justice moves when it’s about politics and retribution — but when it’s about Renee Good and getting real justice? Suddenly it’s crickets," wrote Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin. "Convenient. What a joke."
"Everyone who isn’t employed by this administration knows that they are losing this fight badly," wrote Minnesota-based polling analyst John Hagner. "Regular politics still exists in this country and they should be looking for off ramps. Republican elected officials around MN and the country will pay for their inability to do so."