Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are at the center of a federal investigation by the Department of Justice, with sources confirming that they are being probed for allegedly hindering law enforcement activities. The probe centers on claims that both men made public statements that some are interpreting as encouragement to obstruct justice.
In response, Governor Walz released a statement condemning the investigation and arguing that his comments were merely criticism aimed at protecting democracy and the rule of law. "Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic," he said, referencing the recent controversy surrounding Elissa Slotkin's inquiry into the Justice Department.
Slotkin, a Michigan senator, sparked a similar storm when she released a video urging military personnel not to follow orders that she deemed illegal. As a result, she received inquiries from the Justice Department and was even demoted in her role by the Pentagon.
Similarly, Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, is under scrutiny after a grand jury was issued a subpoena by the DOJ in connection with an ongoing investigation into his leadership. The probe appears to be aimed at punishing Powell for speaking out against President Trump's policies.
Mayor Frey has dismissed the investigation as an "obvious attempt" to intimidate him, arguing that he will continue to prioritize public safety and uphold the law. However, experts are skeptical about the merit of the investigation, pointing out that Walz and Frey's comments on protected speech under the First Amendment.
"It would be incredibly high for the federal government to argue that these statements constitute obstruction of justice," noted Professor David Schultz, an expert in First Amendment law. "There is no case on record that has taken mere criticism to be equivalent to obstruction."
In response, Governor Walz released a statement condemning the investigation and arguing that his comments were merely criticism aimed at protecting democracy and the rule of law. "Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic," he said, referencing the recent controversy surrounding Elissa Slotkin's inquiry into the Justice Department.
Slotkin, a Michigan senator, sparked a similar storm when she released a video urging military personnel not to follow orders that she deemed illegal. As a result, she received inquiries from the Justice Department and was even demoted in her role by the Pentagon.
Similarly, Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, is under scrutiny after a grand jury was issued a subpoena by the DOJ in connection with an ongoing investigation into his leadership. The probe appears to be aimed at punishing Powell for speaking out against President Trump's policies.
Mayor Frey has dismissed the investigation as an "obvious attempt" to intimidate him, arguing that he will continue to prioritize public safety and uphold the law. However, experts are skeptical about the merit of the investigation, pointing out that Walz and Frey's comments on protected speech under the First Amendment.
"It would be incredibly high for the federal government to argue that these statements constitute obstruction of justice," noted Professor David Schultz, an expert in First Amendment law. "There is no case on record that has taken mere criticism to be equivalent to obstruction."
this is getting outta hand... politicians are always so quick to throw each other under the bus 
. I mean, I get it, criticism is one thing but making public statements that could be seen as encouraging people not to cooperate with law enforcement? That's a whole different story 
. And now they're both being probed by the DOJ? This feels like a total abuse of power 
.
. And what about Mayor Frey's dismissal of the investigation as an "obvious attempt" to intimidate him? 
That just seems like a whole lot of finger-pointing going on.
. Like, they're saying Walz and Frey are trying to obstruct justice, but what if their comments were actually meant to protect democracy? 
.
.
democracies need critique, it's all about free speech! 
and btw, isn't it kinda weird that these guys r being targeted for speaking out when others who said similar things are getting away scot-free? 
? It's crazy how quickly things can escalate into a full-blown investigation. I mean, if you're not careful, it's easy to get caught up in all this drama 
. And what really gets me is that they're being scrutinized for exercising their right to free speech 
. I'm all for transparency and accountability, but come on, can't we find a way to do it without making people feel like they're being bullied? 
. I don't think the feds have a strong case here, especially with experts saying that Walz and Frey were just exercising their First Amendment rights 
. Not cool, DOJ 
. Can we get some clarity on this situation? It's all so confusing 
.
. These politicians are being scrutinized for saying stuff they meant as critiques of the justice system or Trump's policies, not actually trying to hinder law enforcement or obstruct investigations. It feels like they're being targeted because they spoke up against things that didn't sit well with some folks in power. And what's the real agenda here? Is it really about holding public officials accountable or is it just a way for some people to silence dissenting voices?