Gov. Walz files requests to uncover Trump administration 'retribution campaign’
Federal judge has quashed subpoenas targeting MN officals
A federal judge has blocked subpoenas issued by the Department of Justice against Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Mayor Jacob Frey, and others.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has filed formal requests to "demand answers" from the Trump administration in an effort to reveal the scope of what he calls a "campaign of retribution against Minnesota" during Operation Metro Surge.
Walz files FOIA requests
What we know:
Walz’s office announced on Tuesday that it filed 16 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with federal agencies, looking for records, communications, and writings since Jan. 20, 2025, that mention the terms "Minnesota", "Walz", "reckoning", "retribution", "punish", or "Democrat."
Minnesota state and local leaders, including the Office of Gov. Tim Walz, were served grand jury subpoenas on Jan. 20, as part of an investigation into an alleged conspiracy to disrupt federal law enforcement during Operation Metro Surge.
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Dig deeper:
The move comes a day after U.S. District Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz denied Department of Justice (DOJ) subpoenas targeting Walz and other Minnesota officials.
In the ruling, Schiltz determined that the subpoenas were "politically motivated, unconstitutional, and without merit."
What they're saying:
"For nearly a year, Minnesotans have lived through a coordinated campaign of retribution from the Trump Administration," Gov. Walz said in a statement announcing the requests. "We have seen it in lawsuits, funding threats, and investigations from an administration looking to come after those who disagree with them. Yesterday, a judge confirmed what we have known all along. Today, we are taking steps to find out exactly how far this campaign reaches, who’s directing it, and what it has cost Minnesotans."
Walz recounts 'difficult year for Minnesota'
Gov. Tim Walz spoke about difficulties Minnesotans faced this year. including the Minnesota lawmaker shootings, the Annunciation school shooting and the ICE surge.
Big picture view:
Walz's office says the FOIA requests were sent to a wide range of federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), DOJ, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Education.
Walz has previously sent inquiries to former Secretary Kristi Noem about immigration enforcement and the detention of children in Minnesota that have so far yet gone unanswered.
The Source: Information provided by the Office and Governor Tim Walz and previous FOX 9 reporting.