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Attorney General Nessel Joins Multistate Coalition Condemning DOJ Threats Against Minnesota
January 30, 2026
LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of 21 other attorneys general in denouncing the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) latest attempt to coerce the State of Minnesota. In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem (PDF), the coalition condemned the Trump administration’s effort to exploit the situation in Minnesota to pressure state leaders into turning over sensitive resident data and dismantling longstanding local public policies. The attorneys general warn that these threats likely conflict with ongoing litigation and court-ordered protections.
“The Trump administration has already been told by the courts that it cannot run an unlawful mass-surveillance operation on the American people,” said Attorney General Nessel. “Now, instead of abiding by the rule of law, it is attempting to strong-arm Minnesota into handing over sensitive and personal data without a valid purpose, any barriers or protections. If the administration is allowed to ignore court orders here, there is nothing to stop them from targeting the next state they see as an adversary. I will continue to call this out, demand accountability from this administration, and fight their attempts to illegally collect and exploit the private information of the people they serve.”
Attorney General Nessel and the coalition sent the letter in response to Attorney General Bondi’s January 24 letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, which accused the state of enabling widespread fraud and demanded a series of actions in exchange for the withdrawal of federal agents from Minnesota. The demands included requests that Minnesota turn over sensitive Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data, dismantle local public policies, and grant the federal government access to Minnesota voter information.
The attorneys general warn that Attorney General Bondi’s letter threatens the constitutional balance of power between the states and the federal government. They assert that the demands intrude on state sovereignty and are intended to coerce the state of Minnesota. With so many of DOJ’s actions already blocked by courts across the country, the attorneys general argue that the administration is attempting to force an outcome that it could not achieve through the courts.
Attorney General Nessel and the coalition make clear that their states will continue to stand firm against unlawful federal interference and will defend both state sovereignty and the rights of their residents. The coalition urges the administration to end its dangerous and unlawful campaign against Minnesota immediately and stand down its alarming demands.
Joining Attorney General Nessel in sending this letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
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