Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey defended himself and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Sunday, insisting they’ve “accomplished nothing mistaken” amid what sources say is a brand new federal investigation concentrating on the 2 Democratic officers.
“If the rumors are true, that is deeply regarding, as a result of that is far more necessary than simply me. It is a very critical matter, and this entire investigation would in the end be the product of one of the vital fundamental foundational obligations that I’ve as mayor, which is to talk on behalf of my constituents,” Frey instructed “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl. “There are different international locations the place you get put away for the issues that you simply say. There are different international locations the place you get investigated for saying one thing that runs counter to what the federal authorities states. However on this nation, it is not that means.”
Frey stated his workplace has not obtained a subpoena from the Division of Justice. He stated he intends to adjust to the investigation.
“Look, we’ve got accomplished nothing mistaken, so after all we’ll comply in it, however on the similar time, we should be understanding how wild that is. We’re doing all the things doable proper now to maintain individuals protected in our metropolis. We’ve spoken out to guarantee that our residents are protected and other people’s constitutional rights are upheld. Talking out in that means will not be illegality,” Frey stated.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey seems on ABC Information’ “This Week” on Jan. 18, 2026.
ABC Information
ABC News reported Friday evening that the Justice Division was investigating whether or not Frey and Walz have been obstructing federal regulation enforcement actions within the state, in accordance with a number of U.S. officers.
In response, Walz accused the administration of “weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents.”
With out immediately confirming the investigation, shortly after information broke Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi posted on X, “A reminder to all these in Minnesota: Nobody is above the regulation.”
In a separate interview on “This Week,” Rep. Michael McCaul — a Republican member and former chair of the Home Homeland Safety Committee — stated that investigating political leaders like that is “unusual.”
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, seems on ABC Information’ “This Week” on Jan. 18, 2026.
ABC Information
“It is a federal offense to impede a federal investigation like we’re seeing within the streets proper now. I believe that could be very unusual to go after political figures like that. I believe it could be extra of an announcement greater than the rest. However you realize, we’ll see,” the Texas lawmaker stated.
Frey and Walz have clashed with the Trump administration in current weeks. As much as 3,000 federal brokers have been surged to Minnesota to conduct immigration enforcement operations and examine fraud allegations. These brokers have been met by protesters demanding they stop operations and depart the state.
On Jan. 7, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot Minneapolis resident Renee Good, a mom of three. The lethal altercation prompted outrage from residents, native officers and Democratic lawmakers, in addition to continued protests, which have been largely peaceable. The Trump administration has defended the officer, asserting he was appearing in self protection as a result of it says the taking pictures sufferer was trying to run him over together with her car.
Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem stated there are not any plans to tug federal brokers from town.
Walz put the Minnesota Nationwide Guard on standby over the weekend in case protests received out of hand. Whereas there have been some clashes between protesters and counterprotesters, the Guard has not been deployed to the streets.
On “This Week,” Frey stated the federal brokers’ presence is in charge for the infected tensions on the bottom.
“The depth is brought on by the undesirable, uninvited individuals which can be right here within the type of ICE,” Frey stated, including that there round about 5 instances as many federal brokers within the metropolis than there are metropolis cops. “The calm exists the place you do not have ICE brokers. So, if you’re seeking to restore order and stop chaos, there is a very simple antidote, and that’s for ICE to depart.”
Frey stated he does not remorse telling ICE to “get the f— out” of Minneapolis after the deadly taking pictures of Good.
“I do not remorse it in any respect,” Frey stated. “If I appeared like I used to be offended and annoyed, I used to be. And a part of my duty as mayor is to channel what in our metropolis are feeling. And the individuals in our metropolis had been offended. They had been upset.”
McCaul, the Texas Republican, known as on everyone to tone down the rhetoric and attempt to deescalate tensions.
“I believe we have to — on each side — begin calming down the rhetoric. I am glad the president didn’t invoke the Rebel Act. To throw our army in the course of all of this simply form of escalated the violence,” he stated.
The president has not dominated out invoking the 1807 regulation that might enable him to deploy the U.S. army for home regulation enforcement. Nevertheless, he stated on Friday, “I do not suppose there’s any motive proper now to make use of it.”
Whereas the administration has defended federal brokers’ conduct, McCaul stated he thinks “possibly some [officers] have to go possibly have some enhanced coaching.”
Requested about Vice President JD Vance and White Home deputy chief of employees Stephen Miller asserting ICE officers have “immunity” from federal prosecution, McCaul stated, “That is not correct.”
“I imply, if there’s an illegal use of pressure, that’s one thing that may be prosecuted by — below federal regulation,” stated McCaul, who beforehand labored for the DOJ. “They do not have full immunity if, you realize, in the event that they violate the usage of pressure legal guidelines. However on the similar time, individuals who impede a federal investigation haven’t got immunity from that both.”
Nevertheless, McCaul agreed with the administration that immigration enforcement operations are vital because of the surge in undocumented immigrants who entered the nation below the Biden administration.
