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In an interview with MPR News, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith said she viewed subpoenas against several Minnesota officials as intimidation attempts and an “extraordinary escalation of conflict.”

Smith said the investigations of Minnesota leaders are no different than the Trump administration’s investigations of U.S. Senators 

, who urged military members against complying with “illegal orders.”

“This is [the Trump administration’s] game plan,” Smith said. “They use the Justice Department as a political weapon.”

The offices of St. Paul mayor Kaohly Her, Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey, Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison were served federal subpoenas on Tuesday.

Her, Frey Walz and Ellison have been outspoken against ICE’s presence in Minnesota. But a federal investigation into those comments would be unusual. 

Smith has experience in city government — she was Chief of Staff to Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak — but said she’d never seen anything like this during her time.

“I worked in [Minneapolis] City Hall when the 35W bridge collapsed,” she said. “But even in a Republican administration, you would try to find ways of coming together and solving problems together.”

— Clay Masters and Gretchen Brown, MPR News

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The latest on ICE in Minnesota

Clay Masters

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Gretchen Brown

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Many Minnesota leaders have been outspoken against ICE’s presence in the state. But a federal investigation into those comments would be unusual.

Sen. Tina Smith: Subpoenas of Minnesota officials are 'extraordinary escalation'

Sen. Tina Smith: Subpoenas of Minnesota officials are ‘extraordinary escalation’

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