Pam Bondi Urges Gov. Tim Walz to Release Minnesota Voter Rolls Following Fatal Federal Shooting
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has issued a sharply worded letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz following the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, arguing that increased cooperation with the federal government could help prevent another “national tragedy.”
The three-point letter, dated Saturday, Jan. 24, came in the wake of growing unrest in Minnesota after two fatal encounters involving federal immigration officers — including the deaths of Renee Good and 37-year-old Alex Pretti. Bondi claims the incidents reflect what she describes as a breakdown of law enforcement cooperation under Walz’s leadership.
“The State of Minnesota has refused to enforce the law, and the consequences are heartbreaking,” Bondi wrote, placing responsibility for the violence on state and local officials.
Bondi’s Three Demands
In her letter, Bondi outlined three actions she says would “bring an end to the chaos” in Minnesota:
Provide federal authorities with a list of Minnesotans receiving welfare benefits
End Minnesota’s sanctuary policies
Grant the Department of Justice access to the state’s voter rolls ahead of upcoming elections
Bondi framed the demands as a call for partnership with the Trump administration, writing that Minnesota “can and should be a partner” in enforcing federal immigration laws.
She also accused state leaders of endangering federal agents by criticizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, claiming such criticism fuels what she described as “lawlessness in the streets.” In the letter, Bondi referred to anti-ICE demonstrators as “rioters” and defended the Department of Homeland Security’s actions.
Notably, the letter does not address recently released videos that appear to show federal agents escalating confrontations during immigration arrests.
Walz Pushes Back
Governor Walz quickly rejected Bondi’s demands. Shortly after the letter became public, he posted on X, stating:
“They think they can provoke us into abandoning our values. They are wrong.”
Walz has repeatedly criticized the federal operation in Minnesota, calling it dangerous and reckless. Following Pretti’s death, he demanded that the Trump administration withdraw thousands of federal officers from the state.
“This is sickening,” Walz wrote. “The President must end this operation. Pull the violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”
The Death of Alex Pretti
Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and intensive care unit nurse who worked at the Minneapolis VA hospital, was killed during a federal immigration enforcement action on Nicollet Avenue. DHS officials claimed Pretti interfered with an arrest and approached agents while armed.
Senior DHS official Gregory Bovino alleged Pretti intended to “do maximum damage” and accused him of violently resisting disarmament, prompting agents to fire what the agency described as “defensive shots.”
However, multiple videos of the incident appear to contradict that account. A New York Times analysis found that Pretti was holding a phone and standing among protesters when he was sprayed with pepper spray. Footage suggests agents quickly swarmed and restrained him, and that his firearm had already been removed before he was shot.
Minneapolis police later confirmed Pretti was a lawful gun owner. He was struck by at least 10 bullets fired within a five-second span.
Family and Public Outcry
Pretti’s parents issued a statement condemning federal officials for what they called false and defamatory claims about their son.
“We are heartbroken but also furious,” they wrote. “The lies told about our son are reprehensible. Alex was not holding a gun when he was attacked.”
Following Bondi’s letter, Walz reiterated Minnesota’s refusal to surrender state control or sensitive data.
“Minnesota believes in law and order. We believe in peace,” he wrote Sunday. “And we believe the president must pull his agents out of our state before another American is killed in the street.”