Minneapolis mayor says reported DOJ probe ‘intimidation’ amid ICE raids

Reports Trump administration is investigating top Democrats in Minnesota come as violent ICE crackdown continues.Published On 17 Jan 2026Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has said he will “not be intimidated” amid reports the Trump administration has launched an investigation over comments he made while trying to curb violent immigration raids in the city.Multiple media outlets reported on Friday that the United States Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation into Frey, as well as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who was also the Democratic candidate for vice president in 2024, for impeding federal law enforcement through public statements.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Federal agent shoots Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis: What we knowlist 2 of 4Trump threatens to use Insurrection Act to end Minneapolis protestslist 3 of 4Trump threatens to use Insurrection Act in Minnesota: What it meanslist 4 of 4Will eliminating fraud clear the US national deficit as Trump claims?end of listThe investigation was first reported by CBS News, although it was not immediately publicly confirmed by the Justice Department.“This is an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, local law enforcement, and residents against the chaos and danger this Administration has brought to our city,” Frey said in a post on X, responding to the reports of an investigation.“I will not be intimidated. My focus remains where it’s always been: keeping our city safe,” Frey wrote.Walz responded indirectly to the reports that he was also being investigated, saying in a statement: “Weaponising the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic.“Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly,” Walz added.US senators Kelly, from Arizona, and Slotkin, from Michigan, are under investigation by the Trump administration after appearing with other Democratic lawmakers in a video urging members of the military to resist “illegal orders” given by their superiors.