Bondi blames Democrats for ‘avoidable’ Minnesota clashes, says political failures fuel unrest

WASHINGTON, DC: Attorney General Pam Bondi used her opening statement before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, to sharply criticize Democratic leaders, accusing them of being "at war with the federal government," and saying their opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has led to "avoidable clashes on the streets".

The Attorney General specifically cited the ongoing turmoil in Minnesota, where federal agents and protesters have clashed for weeks. Bondi maintained that "reckless rhetoric" from state and local officials over the handling of these incidents has put both citizens and law enforcement at risk, framing the clashes as a consequence of political resistance to federal law enforcement. 

DOJ investigates Minnesota official obstruction

Bondi’s testimony came as the Justice Department issued grand jury subpoenas to several Minnesota Democratic officials, including Gov Tim Walz and city leaders, as part of an investigation into whether they obstructed federal immigration enforcement.

The inquiry has centered on local resistance to the federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota, which has sparked protests and clashes after federal agents, including the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good during enforcement operations.

While state officials have called for accountability and an end to the "federal occupation," Bondi argued that the unrest resulted from local leaders encouraging "widespread obstruction" of legal law enforcement actions.

Safety transcends party registration status

Despite her combative tone toward Minnesota leaders, the Attorney General lauded other Democratic-led cities for their cooperation. She specifically highlighted officials in Washington, DC, and Memphis, Tennessee, as examples of leaders working effectively with the federal government to combat crime.

“Public Safety does not have a party registration,” Bondi told the committee. She argued that when citizens call 911, they are seeking help, not the political views of the responding officer. This bipartisan collaboration, she suggested, is the only sustainable way to restore order in cities currently facing high crime rates.

Federal mandate to protect citizens

The hearing underscores the administration's broader push to override local "sanctuary" policies that Bondi claims have failed the American people. She reiterated that if local leaders refuse to protect their citizens, the federal government will intervene.

"When your constituents call 911, they don’t ask for the political views of the responding officer. They ask for help," Bondi stated, justifying the deployment of the National Guard and federal agents to cities like Chicago and Minneapolis. The DOJ remains committed to what she called its "core mission" of enforcing the law regardless of local political pushback.