Minnesota Governor Tim Walz fired back at U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday, dismissing her recent letter as politically motivated and redirecting attention to the long-pending Epstein files. Speaking at a press briefing, Walz said,
“I would just give a pro tip to the AG. There’s 2 million documents in the Epstein files we’re still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those.”
Reporter: You received a letter from AG Pam Bondi making several demands….
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 25, 2026
Walz: I would just give a pro tip to the AG. There's 2 million documents in the Epstein files we're still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those pic.twitter.com/UtjCvlEgWN
Walz’s pointed remark came amid growing tension between state leadership and the federal government over law enforcement operations in Minneapolis. Federal authorities, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have been conducting enforcement actions in the city following high-profile shootings that have stirred widespread protests.
Bondi’s letter criticized Walz and other Minnesota officials for not fully cooperating with federal enforcement efforts. She framed the unrest and federal operations in Minneapolis as a result of “sanctuary city” policies and accused state leaders of shielding undocumented immigrants from federal authorities. In a Fox News interview, Bondi warned,
“We sent Governor Tim Walz a very strong letter today. He better support President Trump and the men and women in law enforcement, because if he doesn’t, we are—and that is what we are doing right now.”
Pam Bondi on Fox News just now pic.twitter.com/BdOMgwR6vv
— My moms caregiver (@mymomcare) January 24, 2026
Walz pushed back, calling Bondi’s letter “not a serious attempt” at resolving the situation. He emphasized that Minnesota authorities have been cooperating with federal requests for information and custody of individuals in state jails, despite claims to the contrary.
“They’re taking credit for people that we’ve had in jail for a long time. We always hand them over, and the commissioner very clearly—so they’re lying. They’re lying,” Walz said.
He further criticized the federal focus on voter rolls and alleged fraud, linking it to President Donald Trump’s claims about election integrity, calling it unrelated to Minnesota’s current challenges.
Instead, Walz argued the federal government should prioritize issues like compliance with court orders in other high-profile cases, pointing specifically to the 2 million documents in the Epstein files that remain unreleased. “If they’re not honoring judicial warrants, how can you trust that they’re going to honor this temporary restraining order?” he asked.
Walz reiterated Minnesota’s commitment to following the law, emphasizing that the state will continue to pursue legal recourse if federal agencies act outside judicial boundaries.
“Just because they may not do the right thing does not absolve us of the responsibility of doing the right thing. We’re going to seek legal recourse. If they disobey a court order, that’s on them,” Walz said.
The exchange underscores the deepening tension between state and federal authorities in the wake of Operation Metro Surge and other immigration enforcement activities in Minneapolis. With public scrutiny intensifying after recent fatal shootings and protests, the dispute over cooperation and accountability shows no signs of abating.
