Legal consultants blast Trump’s DOJ probe of Tim Walz and Jacob Frey as ‘total garbage’ whereas allies rally round Minnesota leaders | EUROtoday

Allies of Tim Walz and Jacob Frey have rallied across the two Minnesota leaders after the Department of Justice launched a felony probe that authorized consultants have labeled “total garbage.”

“All the way through, it’s been just complete tirades against Walz in particular, ‘buffoon, dumb, it’s all his fault,’ this is a complete non-start of a prosecution,” former federal prosecutor Harry Litman advised MS NOW, referencing Donald Trump’s feedback and political campaign towards his critics.

But he added that “it’s a grave thing to try to defy a subpoena, even in a total garbage lawsuit, as this [investigation] is,” he added.

The Justice Department has accused Minnesota’s Democratic governor and the mayor of Minneapolis of obstructing federal regulation enforcement by way of their public statements, which Litman and different authorized consultants say are protected by the First Amendment.

A startling resolution to launch federal investigations into two distinguished Democratic leaders follows the current regulation enforcement surge in Minnesota, which the Department of Homeland Security has referred to as its largest immigration enforcement operation but, leading to greater than 2,500 arrests, with officers accused of violently focusing on immigrants and residents alike and dealing with off towards protesters in violent clashes.

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Tensions have additionally flared up considerably in Minneapolis and different Minnesota cities following the loss of life of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was killed after ICE agent Jonathan Ross fired three pictures by way of the windshield of her automobile. President Donald Trump has additionally threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy active-duty navy towards civilians however later appeared to again down from his remarks.

Walz and Frey have fiercely pushed again towards the surge in remarks to Minnesotans, which the administration alleges has prevented officers from doing their jobs.

Former federal prosecutor Elie Honig has additionally forged doubt on the Justice Department’s case.

“DOJ has lost its damn mind,” Honig advised CNN. “If you have public officials, as we do here, making political speech, even if it’s explosive, inflammatory, aggressive, and then that causes people to protest, or to call 9-1-1, that is simply not obstruction of justice … If they bring an indictment for obstruction, I promise you, they will lose.”

In a press release defending Frey, the Democratic Mayors Association blasted Trump for “making our communities less safe” and utilizing “lies, intimidation, distractions and coverups” to assault residents for exercising their constitutional rights.

“Trump has invaded our cities, attacked our citizens and created fear and chaos,” the assertion learn. “While Trump continues to try to control and dictate instead of lead, Mayor Frey’s focus has and always will remain on keeping the residents of Minneapolis safe.”

Other Minnesota lawmakers reacted with outrage to the investigation, with Senator Amy Klobuchar calling the subpoenas “an assault on our democracy and the rule of law.”

“Speaking out against what our government is doing is not a crime in America—not now, not ever,” she wrote on X.

“America deserves justice, not President Trump’s use of DOJ as a weapon against his perceived enemies,” wrote state Rep. Betty McCollum. “I stand with Gov. Walz.”

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Democratic Senate minority chief Chuck Schumer mentioned “Americans reject this kind of totalitarian bullying.”

“Instead of seeking justice for Renee Good, Donald Trump is weaponizing the Justice Department to investigate and intimidate Democratic leaders in Minnesota,” mentioned Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. “We will not stand by silently and be bullied into submission.”

“With each passing day, more and more of Donald Trump’s political opponents are finding themselves targeted by his Justice Department,” wrote Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, who lately filed a lawsuit towards Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over politically charged threats to the Navy veteran’s rank and retirement.

“It’s not by accident,” he added. “This is un-American, and we cannot allow it to continue.”

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Walz and Frey are the most recent amongst a string of Democratic figures and Trump critics to face felony scrutiny and investigations below the present administration, what critics have labeled a marketing campaign of “retribution” after the president confronted indictments and prosecutions of his personal.

In his personal response to reviews of the investigation, Walz referred to as Trump’s “weaponizing” of the justice system towards his political opponents “a dangerous, authoritarian tactic.”

“This is an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, local law enforcement, and residents against the chaos and danger this administration has brought to our city,” Frey mentioned in a press release.

“I will not be intimidated,” he added. My focus stays the place it’s all the time been: holding our metropolis secure.”

The administration has additionally threatened Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell in an investigation that critics, together with Powell, have blasted as politically pushed after a refusal to slash rates of interest in keeping with Trump’s needs.

“I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy. No one — certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve — is above the law,” Powell mentioned in a press release. “But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration’s threats and ongoing pressure.”