American politician and lawyer, Minnesota Attorney General since 2019
Minnesota lawmakers have pressed for documents and communications linked to the Feeding Our Future fraud case, including potentially those between Ilhan Omar’s office and defendants. The request comes as a federal investigation and state oversight continue to unfold, with 22 search warrants executed and new evidence tied to the MEALS Act and Safari Restaurant.
The U.S. Department of Justice has moved to block Minnesota's climate lawsuit, arguing federal regulation of greenhouse gases overrides state efforts. Minnesota’s attorney general has dismissed the action as meritless, while a parallel state case over consumer protection remains pending.
Minnesota has enacted a state ban on prediction markets, criminalizing creation, operation or advertising of such markets starting Aug. 1. The move has triggered a federal lawsuit from the CFTC, which argues the state oversteps its authority and undermines federal regulation. The ban centers on markets tied to sports, elections, and other future events, with penalties up to five years in prison and fines for operators.
An ICE agent, Christian Castro, has been arrested in Texas after Minnesota prosecutors charged him with four counts of second‑degree assault and one count of falsely reporting a crime related to the Jan. 14 shooting of Julio Cesar Sosa‑Celis during Operation Metro Surge. The arrest follows earlier revelations that officers provided false information and the case is part of heightened scrutiny of federal agents’ conduct in Minnesota.
Vance has referred Minnesota Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison to the Justice Department for potential investigation, citing a House Oversight Committee report on fraud in state programs. The move follows reporting that whistleblowers faced discipline and that fraud warnings were not acted upon. The Justice Department has not commented.
A federal judge has ruled that grand jury subpoenas in a Minnesota immigration probe were issued to coerce officials into aiding civil-immigration enforcement and to harass political opponents. The decision unseals findings that the subpoenas targeted Gov. Walz and other state and local leaders.
The Hennepin County Attorney has obtained hard drives and other previously withheld evidence in the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis. Investigators are reviewing body-camera video, witness statements, and Good’s damaged car as part of ongoing, transparent proceedings. Minnesota officials have requested deadline extensions in a related DOJ lawsuit as FBI information-sharing discussions resume.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison has ordered the release of Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego from ICE custody within 48 hours, citing Fifth Amendment due process rights. He faces a pending habeas petition and a potential U-Visa application, while DHS will comply with the court order. The case follows the July 7 shooting of Lorenzo Araujo Salgado by an ICE officer and related investigations.
Courts have blocked Minnesota’s prediction market ban, while federal agencies push for broader regulation and states push back. The cases test federal preemption versus state gambling authority, with ongoing litigation and potential appeals shaping the future of event-contract markets.
xAI has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Minnesotas new law that will ban AI-generated non-consensual nude images, arguing the statute is overbroad, threatens protected speech and exposes platforms to $500,000 fines per violation. The law is due to take effect Saturday; Minnesota officials say they will defend it in court.