Judge Quashes DOJ Subpoenas Against Minnesota Officials

The ruling, unsealed Monday, strikes down demands for sensitive information from the offices of Governor Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and four other state and local entities. Schiltz, a George W. Bush appointee, dismissed the government’s legal justifications as "risible," concluding that the subpoenas were an attempt to coerce state officials into assisting with federal immigration enforcement. The investigation had been launched in January following intense friction between the White House and Minnesota leadership over widespread deportation roundups.

Throughout the legal battle, the Justice Department maintained that it was investigating potential obstruction of federal law enforcement. However, Schiltz found no credible evidence linking the targeted officials to illegal interference, noting the connections between the requested data and actual crimes were "extremely weak to nonexistent." Governor Walz, who had openly encouraged citizens to document ICE operations, called the decision a victory for the rule of law. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison echoed this sentiment, condemning the use of the criminal justice system as a tool for political retribution.