Maine Attorney General Aaron M. Frey has joined a coalition of 21 other attorneys general in criticizing the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent actions toward Minnesota. The group sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, objecting to what they describe as attempts by the Trump administration to pressure Minnesota into providing sensitive resident data and changing public safety policies.
“Incredibly, the Attorney General of the United States is using the mass deployment of armed federal agents to try and coerce Minnesota officials to give up confidential personal information of its residents that Courts have already protected from being released to the federal government,” said Attorney General Frey. “What AG Bondi cannot obtain in a court of law, she has no shame in fighting to get through an invasion of masked, nameless, armed, and aggressive federal agents.”
The coalition’s letter was prompted by a January 24 communication from Attorney General Bondi to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. In that letter, Bondi accused Minnesota of enabling fraud and demanded actions such as releasing Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data, changing local public safety policies, and giving federal authorities access to voter information.
The attorneys general argue these demands undermine state sovereignty and violate constitutional principles by trying to force compliance outside legal channels. They also note that many DOJ efforts have been blocked by courts elsewhere.
Attorney General Frey stated that he and his colleagues will continue opposing what they see as unlawful federal interference with state matters: “Attorney General Frey 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.”
The letter was led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, with participation from attorneys general representing Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
Aaron M. Frey serves as Maine’s chief law enforcement officer according to his official biography. He previously worked in private legal practice focusing on criminal defense and family law before serving three terms in the Maine House of Representatives from 2012 through 2018 as noted on his official website. Frey was born in Bangor and maintains ties throughout Maine through education at Saint Anselm College (B.A.) and Roger Williams University School of Law (J.D.), legislative service and community involvement including work with Baxter State Park Authority.
