Breaking — DOJ Subpoenas Five Minnesota Officials Over Criticism of ICE

The governor, two mayors, and the officials who could investigate Renee Good's shooter. Everyone but the shooter

While others stenograph, grift, or chase the next distraction—this is the news that matters and how it’s connected.

“The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.”

That’s Governor Tim Walz. As of Tuesday, he’s under federal subpoena for saying it.

The Justice Department served subpoenas to five Minnesota officials: Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty.¹ Read those last two names again. Ellison and Moriarty are the officials who could open their own investigations into Renee Good’s killing. That’s not a coincidence. That’s the target list.

The subpoenas “could further complicate their efforts” to hold anyone accountable, the New York Times reports.¹ Could complicate. That’s polite. The word is designed. You don’t subpoena the people who could investigate your agent unless you’re trying to stop them.

Ellison’s response: “Let’s be clear about why this is happening: Donald Trump is coming after the people of Minnesota and I’m standing in his way. I will not be intimidated.”² He noted the subpoena arrived shortly after his office sued the Trump administration. Frey: “When the federal government weaponizes its power to try to intimidate local leaders for doing their jobs, every American should be concerned.”²

We reported yesterday that the FBI found sufficient grounds to investigate Jonathan Ross for killing Renee Good—and DOJ killed the probe. Now we know the rest. This isn’t an investigation. It’s a purge. Ten federal prosecutors from Michigan have already been deployed to Minnesota, with more coming from five other states.¹ When your own prosecutors won’t persecute political opponents—six resigned last week rather than comply—you import ones who will. AG Bondi made an unannounced visit to Minneapolis Tuesday.³

The legal basis is a Civil War-era statute—one that’s been “rarely used,” according to NBC News, but appeared on a memo from AG Pam Bondi offering prosecutors “a road map for how to charge political agitators with crimes.”² They’re using a law written to prosecute Confederate sympathizers against elected officials who criticized federal agents. The charge? That they “conspired to impede” immigration enforcement.¹ The evidence? Frey used an expletive after agents killed an unarmed mother. Walz asked residents to record ICE agents and document their conduct.

Deputy AG Todd Blanche called this “terrorism.”¹

The same administration that pardoned the January 6 insurrectionists. The same DOJ that killed the civil rights probe into an actual killing. They’re calling criticism terrorism.

The New York Times states what should be obvious: “There is no evidence that either man has incited violence—let alone engaged in acts of terrorism.”¹

But let’s talk about terrorism. The federal code defines it as acts “dangerous to human life” that “appear intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.” Now ask yourself: Who shot an unarmed mother of three? Who tear-gassed a car with six children inside—including a six-month-old who needed CPR? Who is violating the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments so routinely that courts keep ordering them to stop? Who shipped hundreds of people to a torture prison in El Salvador based on nothing but an assertion of gang affiliation—no trial, no evidence, no due process?

That’s not Walz. That’s not Frey. That’s ICE. That’s the DHS. That’s the President of the United States.

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The Call

This isn’t an isolated incident. We track stories like this using the fascism syndrome—ten indicators that a democracy is sliding into fascism—so you don’t lose the thread in the daily chaos:

• Weaponized justice: Five officials subpoenaed for speech. Zero charges for the agent who killed an unarmed woman. The law is a weapon now—aimed at whoever resists.

• Erosion of due process: A Civil War statute weaponized against First Amendment-protected criticism. “Terrorism” charges floated without evidence. Rights depend on political alignment.

• Capture of the state and elimination of accountability: The officials who could investigate the killing are now under federal investigation themselves. Prosecutors who refused resigned. Replacements imported from six states.

Protect the killer. Prosecute the critics. Deploy the reinforcements. That’s not law enforcement. That’s occupation. That’s fascism.

But naming the disease is only half the job.

We built this publication to equip you with the tools to fight back—the frameworks, the messaging, the strategies that actually work. See the links below. But we can only keep doing this with your help. If this matters to you, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. You keep the fight alive.

• Fighting Fascism: How We Push Back and Win — The strategic playbook for reclaiming power

• The Trump Regime Messaging Guide — How to talk to people who’ve been captured by the machine

• The Freedom Illusion — How we got here, and the counter-ideology that gets us out

1. Alan Feuer, Glenn Thrush, and Devlin Barrett, “Prosecutors Subpoena Minnesota Democrats as Part of Federal Inquiry“, New York Times, January 20, 2026.

Documents subpoenas served to five Minnesota officials: Gov. Walz, Mayor Frey, Mayor Her, AG Ellison, and Hennepin County Attorney Moriarty. Reports the investigation centers on whether officials “conspired to impede” federal agents. Notes Ellison and Moriarty “have the power to open their own inquiries into Ms. Good’s killing” and that subpoenas “could further complicate their efforts.” Confirms Deputy AG Blanche accused Frey and Walz of “terrorism” but states explicitly: “There is no evidence that either man has incited violence—let alone engaged in acts of terrorism.” Reports ten prosecutors from Michigan deployed to Minnesota with more expected from five other states.

2. Julia Ainsley, Ryan J. Reilly, and Daniel Arkin, “DOJ serves subpoenas to Walz, Frey and other Minnesota officials amid immigration crackdown“, NBC News, January 20, 2026.

Reports the Civil War-era statute invoked “has been rarely used” but was on a list in a Bondi memo “that offered a road map for federal prosecutors on how to charge political agitators with crimes.” Documents Frey’s statement accusing DOJ of weaponizing power to intimidate local leaders. Quotes Ellison: “Let’s be clear about why this is happening: Donald Trump is coming after the people of Minnesota and I’m standing in his way.” Notes subpoena arrived shortly after Ellison’s office sued the Trump administration. Quotes Walz: “The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.”

3. CNN, “Prosecutors subpoena at least 5 officials in Minnesota as federal official defends enforcement operation“, CNN, January 20, 2026.

Live updates confirming AG Pam Bondi’s unannounced visit to Minneapolis. Reports DOJ launched a separate investigation after demonstrators interrupted Sunday service at a church where an ICE agent reportedly preaches. Notes the FBI briefly opened a civil rights probe into the agent who shot Good before pivoting to investigate Good and her widow.