A federal judge has thrown out Justice Department grand jury subpoenas targeting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state and local officials, ruling they were issued to punish Walz for refusing to assist President Trump’s immigration crackdown.
In a 29-page ruling dated June 17 and unsealed Monday, U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz said the subpoenas against Walz, the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota’s attorney general, and county commissioners were “blatantly unlawful” and aimed at coercing state officials into enforcing federal immigration laws. “There is no doubt” the subpoenas were retaliatory, Schiltz wrote.
The judge found the subpoenas extraordinarily broad and sought materials related to constitutionally protected conduct. Schiltz emphasized that the federal government cannot force states to enforce federal laws, a principle rooted in the Constitution’s structure.
Schiltz linked the Minnesota subpoenas to what he called “the Trump administration’s well-established history of using criminal investigations to retaliate and pressure the President’s political and personal adversaries.” He pointed to a similar case in March 2026, when another federal judge quashed subpoenas against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on identical grounds—that the probe was motivated by retaliation rather than legitimate investigation.
The six subpoenas were served in January 2026 at the height of Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities. The enforcement action drew national attention after federal agents killed two people during street confrontations, and local leaders including Walz publicly opposed the operation.
Schiltz noted that connections between the information sought in the subpoenas and any actual criminal conduct “range from extremely weak to nonexistent,” adding that “these subpoenas were not issued to investigate, but to harass, coerce, and retaliate.” He cited two examples the DOJ cited as potential criminal activity—policy advocacy by members of the Minneapolis City Council—as evidence the government’s theory was strained.
Gov. Walz responded to the ruling by calling it “a victory for the rule of law and our democracy.” The Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and no appeal has been filed as of five days after the ruling.
Sources
- Politico — Judge Schiltz’s 29-page ruling, his findings on retaliation, and Walz’s statement
- KOAM News Now — Details of the 30-page ruling and the judge’s unconstitutional coercion findings
- Reuters — Court’s finding that the dominant purpose was to coerce Minnesota officials
- CNN — Federal judge’s quashing of Powell subpoenas in March 2026 on retaliatory grounds
- NBC News — Powell subpoena ruling and judge’s findings of retaliation
