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Judge quashes DOJ subpoenas of Minnesota officials

newsJun 22, 2026311,154

Federal Judge Patrick Schiltz quashed six grand jury subpoenas seeking testimony and records from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, and county officials in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties. The subpoenas were issued in January as part of a Justice Department grand jury investigation into state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and Schiltz said in a 29-page opinion that the department engaged in an improper, politically motivated use of the grand jury process. Schiltz pointed to President Trump’s public statements describing investigations as "retribution" and concluded the subpoenas crossed constitutional lines, including commandeering concerns under the Tenth Amendment. The ruling narrows the Justice Department’s ability to compel state officials and raises separation-of-powers and anti-retaliation questions about using federal investigative tools against political opponents ahead of upcoming elections.

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