McCollum: ‘Republicans in Congress Continue to Target Minnesota in Unprecedented Campaign of Retribution and Incompetence’

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform heard testimony from Governor Walz, Attorney General Ellison, and Reverend Mariah Tollgaard, Senior Minister at Hamline United Methodist Church. Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, issued the following statement:

"Rather than addressing the health care and affordability crises they created for the American people, President Trump and Republicans in Congress continue to target Minnesota in an unprecedented campaign of retribution and incompetence aimed at attacking our way of life and dividing our neighbors," said Congresswoman McCollum. "In December, the Trump administration claimed that fraud and crime were the primary issues impacting Minnesotans. However, rather than working with the Walz administration and Attorney General Ellison on their successful efforts to hold those accountable for their crimes, Trump used fraud as a pretext to invade and occupy our state with an estimated 4,000 masked, unidentifiable immigration agents - nearly 1,000 more agents than previously acknowledged by the administration. The result of their 'surge?' Federal agents killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti - two American citizens, injured hundreds more, and violated the civil rights of thousands in the process. I thank Reverend Mariah Tollgaard for offering the committee a glimpse of the suffering that Minnesotans have experienced as a result of the cruelty directed upon our state by President Trump.

"Additionally, in January, a majority of the leadership team at the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office resigned over the administration's surge, including the lead fraud prosecutor. Since 2025, nearly half the office's attorneys have quit or retired citing concerns about the administration's ethics, political pressure, and immigration tactics. This catastrophic loss of prosecutorial experience threatens the government's cases against criminals, including drug dealers and sex offenders, leaving our state less safe.

"President Trump's 'Operation Metro Surge' has been a complete failure. The Trump administration broke the law and now they are blaming immigrants and American citizens rather than holding accountable those who violated the Constitution.

"Instead of conducting any real oversight, Congressional Republicans are complicit with the Trump administration's political attacks on Minnesotans, Governor Walz, Attorney General Ellison, Alex Pretti, Renee Good, and her widow - casting blame on everyone except those who trampled on Americans' civil rights and due process during the occupation of Minnesota. In the face of this unprecedented assault on our state, Minnesotans have responded by coming together to support one another. We are Minnesota Strong."

Click here to read Congresswoman McCollum's statement for the record.