BREAKING: Gov. Walz To Meet With Homan, Doesn’t Know Who Killed Pretti | The Bulwark Podcast
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Governor Walz views the federal presence in Minnesota as an 'assault' by an 'unorganized, untrained, dangerous force' unrelated to legitimate immigration enforcement.
- ❖The federal government has not disclosed the identity of Alex Freddy's shooter and barred state investigators from the crime scene, hindering an independent investigation.
- ❖An active federal investigation into Renee Good's wife is ongoing, which Walz describes as 'demented' and a 'moral injury.'
- ❖Walz plans to meet with Tom Homan, hoping for a shift towards professional, coordinated immigration enforcement rather than aggressive street tactics.
- ❖The peaceful, organized resistance of Minnesotans, including local law enforcement, forced the federal government to change its approach due to political fallout.
- ❖The President's claims about federal arrests in Minnesota are misleading, as many were existing state prisoners handed over to ICE.
- ❖Local counties in Minnesota follow the law regarding detainers for undocumented individuals, but will not hold them indefinitely for civil immigration issues or do ICE's job.
Insights
1Federal Actions Deemed an 'Assault' and Unprofessional
Governor Walz characterizes the federal government's deployment of agents in Minnesota as an 'assault' by an 'unorganized, untrained, dangerous force.' He asserts these agents had no legitimate connection to immigration or law enforcement, causing widespread trauma and moral injury among citizens.
Walz states, 'I don't know how to describe it other than an assault. I've never witnessed anything like this... this is an unorganized, untrained, dangerous force on the streets that has nothing to do with either immigration or law enforcement.' He also mentions 'moral injury that we're living through' and the trauma of 'children watching people get drugged.'
2Lack of Transparency and State Exclusion in Homicide Investigations
The federal government has withheld the identity of the agent who killed Alex Freddy and prevented Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) from accessing the crime scene, despite a court order. This obstruction has severely hampered the state's ability to conduct an independent investigation and secure evidence.
Walz states, 'I do not know [who shot Alex Freddy]... We were still kept out.' He adds, 'You ruin the evidence. You don't know what's there.' He also notes the FBI's refusal to get involved, indicating the severity of the situation.
3Political Motivation Behind Federal Shift, Not Humanity
Walz believes the White House's decision to change its approach and engage with the state, including replacing Greg Babino with Tom Homan, is primarily driven by political expediency rather than genuine concern for humanity. The federal government's 'most popular issue on immigration, the bottom has fallen out on them.'
Walz says, 'I would like to think humanity is why they called me... But you and I both know it's probably not what it was.' He adds, 'The politics for the White House is they cannot afford to see tear gas on the streets and they certainly can't afford to see another incident like we saw on Saturday morning.'
4Peaceful Resistance as a Winning Strategy
The organized, nonviolent resistance of Minnesotans, even in harsh weather, proved effective against the federal government's tactics. This peaceful approach thwarted attempts to provoke violence and ultimately led to a shift in federal strategy.
Walz notes, 'massive organized nonviolent resistance did' lead to 'a change in tone.' He states, 'I think they thought they would get weak resistance or they would try and provoke violence. Neither of those things happened.' He also contrasts federal agents with unmasked National Guard professionals 'handing out hot chocolate, coffee, and donuts.'
Bottom Line
The federal government's aggressive tactics in Minnesota, while politically motivated, may lead to a 'shift of this nightmare somewhere else' to other states rather than a fundamental policy change.
This implies that the federal government might simply relocate its controversial operations to less politically resistant states, rather than reforming its approach nationwide. This could create new flashpoints in other regions.
States and local communities should proactively coordinate and establish clear protocols with federal agencies regarding immigration enforcement to prevent similar 'assaults' and ensure local control and transparency.
The FBI's refusal to get involved in the investigation of Alex Freddy's death, despite its federal nature, signals a deep distrust or recognition of severe impropriety within the DHS's actions.
This suggests that even within the federal apparatus, the actions of DHS/HSI in Minnesota were considered beyond the pale, undermining the credibility of any internal investigation conducted by DHS.
This provides leverage for state and congressional oversight bodies to demand a truly independent investigation, as even other federal agencies distanced themselves from the incident.
Lessons
- Demand full transparency and independent investigation into federal use of force, especially when it results in civilian deaths, by pushing for state access to crime scenes and identification of agents.
- Advocate for clear protocols and coordination between federal immigration enforcement agencies (ICE/CBP) and local law enforcement to ensure operations are professional, targeted, and respect community trust.
- Support and participate in organized, nonviolent resistance against federal overreach, as demonstrated by Minnesotans, to exert political pressure and force policy shifts.
Notable Moments
Governor Walz reveals an active federal investigation into the wife of Renee Good, describing it as 'demented' and a 'moral injury.'
This highlights the ongoing and deeply personal impact of federal actions, extending beyond the immediate incidents of violence to target families, and underscores the perceived vindictiveness of the federal approach.
Walz contrasts the federal agents' masked, aggressive tactics with the Minnesota National Guard's unmasked, community-oriented approach, including handing out hot chocolate and coffee to protesters.
This powerful contrast illustrates the fundamental difference between building community trust through transparent, respectful policing and alienating the public through militarized, anonymous force. It shows how local forces prioritize trust, even amidst protest.
Quotes
"This is an unorganized, untrained, dangerous force on the streets that has nothing to do with either immigration or law enforcement."
"They still have an active federal investigation into the wife of Renee Good. And that is demented right there."
"The FBI is not involved in this because they wouldn't even touch it. They knew this was such a horrible thing."
"You started this fire. You don't get credit for putting it out after you started it."
"The minute they pushed that woman to the ground that Alex had no other choice because just as sure as he breathes he was going to go and and put himself in between."
Q&A
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