Gov Tim Walz demands Minnesota’s inclusion in ICE shooting probe
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Minnesota Gov Tim Walz on Thursday, January 8, called for the state to be fully included in the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent, criticizing what Minnesota officials said was a federal decision to exclude the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) from the probe.
“Minnesota must be part of this investigation,” Walz said during a news conference, emphasizing that the BCA was staffed by “non-partisan career professionals” who had spent years building trust within the community.
Walz highlighted the BCA’s force investigations unit, noting it was created by the state legislature to serve as an independent and consistent mechanism for reviewing law enforcement use-of-force incidents.
“I will continue to press that we be part of the investigation so that Minnesotans can trust what the outcome is,” he said.
Tim Walz says public statements from leaders undermine fairness
Walz said that he was deeply concerned that public comments from top federal officials had already compromised the perception of a fair and impartial investigation.
“It feels very, very difficult that we will get a fair outcome,” the governor stated, pointing to statements made by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“People in positions of power have already passed judgment. They have stood and told you things that are verifiably false, verifiably inaccurate,” Walz noted.
He accused Noem of acting as “judge, jury and executioner” by publicly characterizing the incident before investigators had established the facts, adding that such rhetoric made it “very, very difficult to think that there is going to be fairness.”
Tim Walz urges protesters to channelize their anger constructively
As protests continued in the Minneapolis area following Good’s death, Walz urged demonstrators to avoid violence and to direct their anger constructively.
“When I saw yesterday some of the anger, whether it’s Minneapolis police, Minnesota State Patrol, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota National Guard- they are there to protect and serve,” Walz said. “Throwing your anger at them only inflames this situation.”
The governor also referenced an individual outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building who, he said, appeared intent on provoking protesters by using a bullhorn to shout at the crowd. Walz cautioned against allowing such behavior to spark violence.
“Our respect for the First Amendment means we will expect and respect all opinions,” he said. “If this individual is there expressing support for ICE, that’s their constitutional right and they need to be protected.”
Acknowledging that many Minnesotans were feeling scared, angry, or hopeless, Walz said that the state was now under a national spotlight.
“I think now we may be in that moment that the nation’s looking to us to hold the line on Democracy, to hold the line on decency, to hold the line on accountability,” he said.
Calling the shooting an “inflection point,” Walz urged federal leaders to lower the temperature, listen to local officials, and allow communities to grieve without fear.
Tim Walz tells Trump to 'leave Minnesota alone'
Walz confirmed that he had not spoken with President Trump since the shooting, but had a clear message for the president. “Leave Minnesota alone,” the governor said.
He called on Trump to de-escalate the moment, allow Minnesotans time to grieve, and permit the investigation to proceed under the rule of law.
“We’re exhausted as Minnesotans, we’re exhausted as Americans,” Walz said. “This relentless assault on Minnesota, for whatever reason, is just cruel,” he added.
