New Jersey attorney general joins multistate coalition opposing DOJ demands involving Minnesota
TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport has joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in opposing recent actions by the U.S. Department of Justice related to Minnesota, according to a letter sent to federal officials this week.
In the letter, addressed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the attorneys general criticized what they described as federal efforts to pressure Minnesota state leaders into turning over sensitive resident data and altering public safety policies. The coalition said the demands raise concerns about state sovereignty and may conflict with ongoing litigation and court-ordered protections.
“Instead of working with state and local leaders to keep the public safe, the Trump Administration has sown chaos, stoked fear, and undermined public safety in Minnesota at every turn. Now the Department of Justice is making things even worse, engaging in coercive tactics that are outrageous and that do nothing to promote public safety,” Davenport said. “I stand together with my fellow attorneys general in condemning the Trump Administration’s reckless targeting of Minnesotans, and I call on the Administration to end this shameful chapter immediately.”
The letter was sent in response to correspondence dated Jan. 24 from Attorney General Bondi to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. According to the coalition, that letter outlined a series of actions Minnesota would be expected to take in exchange for the withdrawal of federal agents from the state. The demands reportedly included providing access to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program data, modifying local public safety policies, and granting federal authorities access to voter-related personal identifying information.
The attorneys general said the demands outlined in the letter raise constitutional concerns by intruding on the balance of power between the federal government and the states. They argued the actions amount to coercion and noted that several DOJ initiatives have already been challenged or blocked in courts nationwide.
The coalition stated that its members intend to continue defending state authority and the rights of residents against what they view as unlawful federal interference. The letter calls on the administration to withdraw its demands involving Minnesota.
The effort was led by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia also signed the letter.
