Attorney General Pam Bondi warns ‘no one is above the law’ amid Minnesota unrest

Attorney General Pam Bondi warned Tuesday that “no one is above the law” as the Department of Justice (DOJ) increases its presence in Minnesota after weeks of unrest, an escalation of immigration enforcement tensions and the disruption of a church service on Sunday.

Bondi made the comments in an exclusive interview with Fox News conducted in Minneapolis, where she met with federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials amid what she described as continued chaos in the state.

“No one is above the law in this state or in this country — and people will be held accountable,” Bondi told Fox News.

Bondi said conditions in Minnesota have deteriorated in recent weeks, citing continued unrest and concerns about officer safety.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi gave an exclusive interview to Fox News on Tuesday in Minneapolis. (Fox News)

“This state is a mess right now,” she said. “We have seen chaos and it is constant, and our men and women in law enforcement deserve to be safe.”

Bondi said he met with federal agents from the FBI, DEA and ATF, as well as U.S. Attorney Rosen, emphasizing coordination between federal agencies as tensions persist.

“We have a great American attorney and we are all going to fight together,” she said. “That’s why it was so important to be here.”

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A law enforcement officer uses a battering ram to force entry into a home during an immigration raid in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Léa Millis/Reuters)

Bondi’s visit comes after Minnesota officials, including the state’s governor, mayor and attorney general, confirmed they had received federal subpoenas. When asked if these subpoenas signaled an investigation into their offices, Bondi declined to provide details.

“I can neither confirm nor deny whether we have conducted an investigation or what it is,” Bondi said. “I can’t argue.”

Asked whether rhetoric from state and local leaders contributed to the unrest, Bondi said inflammatory language can have consequences, but reiterated that responsibility applies universally.

“Rhetoric causes hurt and injury, and that shouldn’t happen,” she said. “Whether it’s a public official or a law enforcement officer, no one is above the law in this state or in this country – and people will be held accountable.”

Bondi also addressed Sunday’s disruption of a church service in St. Paul, calling the incident “horrible” and saying such behavior should never occur in any place of worship.

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Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where activists shut down a service claiming the pastor also worked as an ICE agent. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

“What happened in that church was horrible,” Bondi said. “This should not happen to any Christian, to any religion, to any synagogue, to any mosque, to any place of worship in our country.”

Bondi said she spoke directly with Pastor Jonathan Parnell and plans to meet with him.

“This shouldn’t happen,” she said. “And it was horrible.”

In a statement following the Jan. 18 incident, Parnell said a group of agitators disrupted the worship service, accosted members of the congregation and frightened children, calling their conduct “shameful” and “unlawful.”

“Invading a religious service to disrupt the worship of Jesus – or any other act of worship – is not protected by either the Christian Scriptures or the laws of this nation,” Parnell wrote, adding that religious buildings are meant to be places of peace and refuge.

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Parnell said the church is evaluating next steps with legal counsel and called on local, state and national leaders to protect the fundamental right to worship freely.

Asked if Minnesotans should expect the situation to continue federal participation following his visit, Bondi responded unequivocally.

“President Trump is committed to keeping Minnesota safe,” she said. “So the answer is yes.”