Meanwhile, Minneapolis has been rocked by protests following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen, by an ICE agent last week. The incident has sparked outrage and prompted public demonstrations across the city.

Walz further commented on the situation, highlighting a pattern he sees in recent events. “Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week, it was Jerome Powell. Before that, it was Mark Kelly. Using the justice system to target opponents is a classic authoritarian move,” he stated.

In a separate statement responding to a CNN report on the investigation, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey echoed similar sentiments. “This is a clear effort to intimidate me for defending Minneapolis, our local law enforcement, and the residents against the chaos and danger this administration has imposed on our city,” Frey remarked.

It would be highly unusual for federal prosecutors to bring a criminal conspiracy case ‍based on statements from public officials about government policies.

Renee Good was fatally shot by a federal agent in south Minneapolis on 7 January. Source: Getty / Scott Olson

The Trump administration has sent nearly 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota since early last week, triggering angry protests in Minneapolis over the surge in immigration agents on the streets of the state’s most populous city.

Confrontations between residents and federal officers have become increasingly tense after an ICE agent fatally shot a US citizen, Renee Good, 37, behind the wheel of her car, in Minneapolis on 7 January, triggering daily protests that have spread to other cities.