Judge says Trump DOJ subpoenas of Tim Walz and other Democrats are unconstitutional
A federal judge on Monday blocked the Justice Department from forcing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other officials to turn over records in its probe of Democratic resistance to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, calling the move a retaliatory effort to “harass political opponents.”
In a
30-page ruling, district Judge Patrick Schiltz found that subpoenas were “part of an unconstitutional effort to coerce Minnesota officials into assisting the federal government with enforcing civil immigration laws and to harass and retaliate against them for failing to do so.”
“The Department is not conducting a criminal investigation, but is instead using the grand jury process for other (unlawful) purposes,” wrote Schiltz, an appointee of former President George W. Bush.
Schiltz said there is “overwhelming” evidence that the subpoenas were issued only to pressure the state officials, noting that senior Justice Department officials have repeatedly threatened to punish states that have so-called sanctuary policies. And, he said, the department “has struggled-without success-to identify a single plausible investigatory justification for the subpoenas.”
Frey also lauded the ruling, saying that “subpoenaing political opponents because they spoke on behalf of their constituents violates the core tenets of our democracy and human decency.”