A group of 22 attorneys general, including Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark, has criticized the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for pressuring Minnesota to comply with federal demands. In a letter addressed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the coalition objected to what they described as attempts by the Trump administration to leverage the situation in Minnesota to gain access to sensitive state data and change public safety policies.
The coalition’s response follows a January 24 letter from Attorney General Bondi to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. That letter accused Minnesota of facilitating widespread fraud and called for several actions as conditions for withdrawing federal agents from the state. The DOJ’s requests included access to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data, changes to local public safety measures, and permission for federal authorities to review voter information.
The attorneys general argue that these demands threaten the constitutional balance between state and federal powers. They claim that the requests overstep into state authority and are meant to force compliance through means outside judicial approval.
“Attorney General Clark and the coalition sent today’s letter in response to Attorney General Bondi’s January 24 letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, which accused the state of enabling widespread fraud and demanded a series of actions in exchange for the withdrawal of federal agents from Minnesota. The demands included requests that Minnesota turn over sensitive Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data, dismantle critical local public safety policies, and grant the federal government access to Minnesota voter information.”
The group further contends that many DOJ initiatives have already been halted by court orders nationwide, suggesting this latest move is an attempt by the administration to bypass legal obstacles.
“Attorney General Clark and the coalition make clear that their states will continue to stand firm against unlawful federal interference and will defend both state sovereignty and the rights of their residents. The coalition urges the administration to end its dangerous and unlawful campaign against Minnesota immediately and stand down its alarming demands.”
Other states represented in signing this letter include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
A copy of the letter can be found on Vermont’s attorney general website.
