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U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is demanding that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz comply with a series of federal directives to “restore the rule of law,” drawing fierce backlash from Democrats who say the Trump administration is attempting to extort the state in the wake of a fatal shooting by federal agents.
In a letter sent Saturday (January 24) and reported by The New York Times, Bondi blamed Minnesota’s leadership — not aggressive immigration enforcement — for widespread protests following the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen who was shot by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.
Bondi ordered Walz to repeal policies limiting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), share information on state welfare programs, and grant the Department of Justice access to Minnesota’s voter registration records.
“You and your office must restore the rule of law, support ICE officers, and bring an end to the chaos in Minnesota,” Bondi wrote.
The letter was sent the same day Pretti was killed. Federal officials claim he brandished a firearm, but multiple eyewitness accounts and video footage contradict that narrative. The incident remains under investigation.
Democratic leaders and voting rights advocates say Bondi’s demands — particularly her request for voter data — amount to coercion.
The Democratic National Committee says the Trump administration has repeatedly pressured states to hand over unredacted voter files as part of a broader effort to build a national database, warning the move threatens voter privacy and election integrity. The DNC is currently fighting similar DOJ efforts in court.
DNC Chair Ken Martin called Bondi’s letter a “threatening attempt to extort the state,” saying Democrats will challenge the administration’s actions through legal channels.
Minnesota officials have not yet publicly responded to Bondi’s demands.
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