By Jill McLaughlin

Gov. Tim Walz called reports of a federal investigation into his recent public statements encouraging Minnesotans to take action against federal immigration agents in the state an “authoritarian tactic.”

“Weaponizing the justice system against your opponents is an authoritarian tactic,” Walz posted on X Friday. “The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.”

Walz’s comments referred to a news report claiming the Department of Justice had launched an investigation into Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey over alleged obstruction of law enforcement.

Frey said the federal probe was meant to intimidate him, vowing not to succumb to the fear.

“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 posted on X. “I will not be intimidated. My focus remains where it’s always been: keeping our city safe.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X following the comments: “A reminder to all those in Minnesota: No one is above the law.”

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers (ICE) have surged into the state in a massive operation this month after social services fraud was allegedly uncovered, mainly in the Somali immigrant community.

Protests have grown increasingly inflamed since Good, 37, was fatally shot Jan. 7 while driving toward a federal officer in Minneapolis. According to DHS, the officer was struck by the vehicle and suffered internal bleeding.

On Thursday, Walz posted a video telling the public ICE agents were “going door-to-door ordering people to point out where their neighbors of color live. They’re pulling over people indiscriminately, including U.S. citizens and demanding to see their papers, at grocery stores, and at bus stops, even at our schools.”

Walz also claimed the officers were “breaking windows and dragging pregnant women down the street,” “grabbing Minnesotans and shoving them into unmarked vans,” and “kidnapping innocent people with no warning.”

The governor called it an occupation and asked the public to film ICE agents and carry their phones at all times to help them “create a database of atrocities against Minnesotans.”

In response to the latest video, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told Fox News that Walz and other leaders in the state had turned up the temperature and incited violence against them.

President Donald Trump said Friday that he didn’t have any reason to use the Insurrection Act to quell protests and violence against ICE operations in Minneapolis at this time. He warned the day before he was considering using the act, which would allow him to deploy military troops to the state to restore order.

The FBI’s national press office declined to comment about the investigation and referred questions to the DOJ.

Requests for comments sent to the offices of Walz and Frey were not returned on Friday.