Name: Sources: DOJ probes MN governor, Minneapolis mayor for alleged obstruction of law enforcement
Uploaded: 2026-01-17T17:14:04.000Z
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We begin tonight with breaking news in Minnesota and the showdown between the Trump administration, Democratic leaders on the ground.

The Justice Department is now investigating Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

Now, the investigation apparently centers on possible obstruction of federal law enforcement.

Both Waltz and Frey have been fierce critics of the Trump administration's response to the death of Renee Good.

Opening an investigation into them is certainly a dramatic escalation in this battle between of the White House and these leaders.

While the DOJ is now investigating the conduct of Democratic state and local leaders, they made clear they are not investigating the officer who actually shot and killed Renee Good.

Now earlier this week, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement, quote, there is currently no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation.

The DOJ Civil Rights Division typically launches investigations into law enforcement related shootings to make sure that officers did not breach the rights of the shooting victims.

Blanche's statement came amid a flurry of resignations in the Minnesota U.S. attorney's office.

As we reported, at least six prosecutors left after pressure to focus the probe of the ICE officer shooting onto Good's widow, Becca Goode, and

When reached for comment about the investigation, Governor Tim Walts did not confirm it to cnn, but

accused the federal government of, in his words, weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents.

He called that a dangerous authoritarian tactic.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry just released a statement that reads in part, this is an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, our local law enforcement and our residents against the chaos and danger this administration has brought to our streets.

Now, news of the investigation came as Deputy Attorney General Blanche and FBI Director Cash Patel were on the ground in Minneapolis.

The FBI director posting these photos to social media along with the caption that read in part, this team is working 247 here, cracking down on violent rioters.

And this was the scene today at the Whipple Federal Building, the epicenter of protests in Minneapolis.

The building serving as a staging facility for ICE agents, DHS officers and Customs and Border Protection personnel.

This all comes one day after President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection act in Minnesota.

Late this morning, he issued a social media post that read in part, the governor and mayor don't know what to do.

They have totally lost control and are currently being rendered useless.

If and when I am forced to act, it will be solved quickly and effectively.

This afternoon, he was asked what the trigger would be for the Insurrection act to be used in Minnesota.

I don't think there's any reason right now to use it, but

For the latest on the investigation to Governor Waltz and Mayor Fry, we start with Kaitlan Collins, CNS chief White House correspondent and anchor of the Source.

What we know so far is that a grand jury has issued subpoenas.

It's definitely in the beginning stages, based on what we know.

But what we've also learned tonight is we don't believe that Mayor Fry or Governor Walz's offices have actually been served these subpoenas.

Neither of them had gotten any notice about this investigation until we had reached out to our sources and then reached out to them for comment on this.

And so the scope of it is not entirely clear.

But what we do know is that it's around allegations of obstructing federal law enforcement, and

that's really just been pointing back to nothing they've done physically.

What we've heard from Mayor Fry, what we've heard from Governor Walz, who have been very outspoken and critical of the federal surge that has been happening in their state, about 3,000 agents are actually there on the ground.

It was the mayor who that first night, earlier the week said, get the F out of.

And then Governor Tim Walz this week said, encouraged people to record ICE officers as they were agents, as they were carrying out these enforcement operations and telling them to call 911 if necessary.

Now, the administration has been very critical of that.

But whether or not that warrants an investigation or that meets the standard of criminal behavior, obviously it remains to be seen how the administration is going to prove that Governor Waltz gave a speech, you know, when she said, you know, protest, protest peacefully.

And the mayor, I think, recently gave a speech in which he said also, you know, don't fall into the trap of, you know, giving them what they want and creating violence.

And the administration has argued that they are helping contribute to this and make it a hostile environment for these ICE agents and federal officers who are still on the ground.

We've heard the exact opposite, obviously, from Governor Walzen and Mayor Fry, who have said, no, they just don't want all of these federal agents inside their cities.

They don't think that they're necessary, and

they think they're the ones who are actually making the tensions on the ground worse.

Which they say were building way before the shooting death by that ICE agent of Renee Good.

And so we'll see where this goes and if they actually get these subpoenas, hopefully learn more about the investigation.

The the federal former prosecutor Jeffrey Toobin joins me right now.

So Jeff, has the governor or the mayor done anything, as far as you can tell to warrant a federal investigation?

Or is this just, you know, the thing that this White House would do, whether it's political retribution or just, you know, sowing chaos?

This week began with news that the Justice Department was criminally investigating Jerome Powell, the head of the Federal Reserve, basically to coerce him into lowering interest rates.

Now the week is ending with news of a criminal investigation of of these two Minnesota officials who are trying to protect their city and state.

What's going on here is the Justice Department is doing the political bidding of the White House.

This has never happened before, even during the Nixon administration.

This sort of politicization of the Justice Department.

I mean, you know, we've worn out the phrase shocking but not surprising.

But that's what's going on with this Justice Department.

Let me give you the pushback that we've had guests on this program, you know, Republican supporters of the White House say, which is, well, look, Justice Department always is under the president.

You know, Robert F. Kennedy was the attorney general for his brother when his brother was president.

Eric Holder was a, you know, close friend of President Obama.

I mean, the Justice Department has always been a cabinet department of the president.

But you have to look at what they're doing, not just the relationship.

And what you see is criminal investigations.

And remember, it's also the failed prosecution of James Comey, the failed prosecution of Tish James, this endless use of the Justice Department against the president's political enemies.

It's always true that the Justice Department is part of the executive branch, but.

But what you have to do is look at what they are actually doing.

And these investigations seem, as far as anyone can tell, and

I'm certainly one of them, have nothing to do with actual violations of the law and everything to do with the political agenda of the president.

Do you think this is one kind of step toward preparing people for an insurrection act?

You know, the president has been dancing around that.

You know, the last time, as I understand it, that the insurrection act was used over the objection of local officials was by President Eisenhower during the school integration crisis.

I mean, this is something that has almost Never been done in American history.

And remember, the Insurrection act involves the military, not the National Guard.

So what you're talking about is moving tanks and the US Military, not the National Guard.

Our soldiers are trained for many things, but they are not trained for controlling demonstrations in American cities.

And it is a chilling thought to think that they might be brought out when Minneapolis is again, as far as I can tell is, you know, there are protests, but

there is nothing particularly out of the ordinary.

Well, the thing is people exercising their First Amendment rights.

They would be helping ICE to continue, you know, seeking people, questioning people, asking people for their id.

And the only way they're really doing that would be blocking civilians or kind of quelling any protests from civilians so that ICE can go about their functions, I assume, or they are helping secure every location where ICE is and is operating.