Minnesota Governor Walz Faces Backlash Over $430K in Legal Fees for Congressional Hearing Prep

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is under fire from state Republican lawmakers after reports revealed that his office spent over $430,000 in taxpayer funds to prepare for a recent congressional hearing examining “sanctuary city” policies in Democrat-led states.

Documents obtained by the Star Tribune show that the Walz administration enlisted the services of international law firm K&L Gates to provide legal guidance in the lead-up to Walz’s appearance before the House Oversight Committee in mid-June. The hearing, organized by the GOP-led committee, scrutinized the policies of states that offer protections to undocumented immigrants.

The cost of that preparation raised eyebrows across Minnesota’s political spectrum, with the bulk of expenses incurred in May alone. According to billing records, the state was charged approximately $232,000 during that month—translating to an hourly rate of around $516.

The invoices reveal the legal work spanned from April 10 through June 12, when the hearing took place. All told, Minnesota taxpayers footed a bill totaling $430,000.

Criticism from State Republicans

State GOP lawmakers wasted no time criticizing what they see as a misuse of public funds. Representative Jim Nash, one of the two Republicans on Minnesota’s Legislative Advisory Commission, questioned why the governor felt the need to hire high-priced legal counsel rather than rely on the state’s existing legal and communications staff.

“A half-million dollars of public money for hearing prep? That’s excessive,” Nash said. “Especially when you consider the state’s own legal team and public relations personnel, not to mention the fact that our Attorney General, who served in Congress alongside Walz, could have assisted him.”

Nash also indicated that he would be digging further into the documents to better understand the nature of the services provided.

Republican Representative Harry Niska echoed those sentiments, claiming the expenses serve no genuine legal purpose but rather amount to public relations consulting under the guise of legal work.

“Governor Walz spent over a decade in Congress—he knows how those hearings work,” Niska said. “So why was there any need to drop nearly half a million dollars to get ready for a routine hearing? It’s clear this was more about managing optics and less about legal strategy.”

Niska didn’t stop there. He accused the governor of using taxpayer money to boost his national profile in what some believe may be a soft launch of a future presidential bid.

“It’s unacceptable to pass the cost of political ambition onto Minnesota’s working families,” Niska added. “This is about one man’s image, not the people’s interest.”

Governor’s Office Pushes Back

Governor Walz and his team responded to the criticism by placing blame on House Republicans for staging what they characterized as a politically motivated spectacle.

Teddy Tschann, spokesperson for the governor, said the congressional hearing was designed as “a made-for-TV stunt” and accused Representatives Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber of orchestrating the event to score political points.

“They knew the cost. They knew the time it would take. And they pushed ahead anyway,” Tschann said. “This wasn’t about policy. It was about performance.”

When directly asked about the legal bill, Governor Walz admitted the expenses weren’t ideal but maintained the hearing itself was a waste of resources.

“It’s not where I wanted to spend our money. It’s not where I wanted to spend my time,” Walz told reporters. “But when called before Congress, we had to be prepared—even if the hearing proved to be nothing more than grandstanding.”

Not an Isolated Incident

While the costs have caused a stir in Minnesota, it’s not unprecedented for government officials to spend large sums on outside legal preparation ahead of congressional testimony.

Earlier this year, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu revealed her city planned to pay approximately $650,000 to a private law firm for similar services related to a Washington, D.C. hearing.

Likewise, the City of Denver spent roughly $250,000 earlier this year to secure external legal support for Mayor Mike Johnston ahead of his congressional appearance.

Ongoing Scrutiny

Despite precedents elsewhere, the scale of Minnesota’s legal spending has prompted state Republicans to demand more oversight and accountability. Some are even pushing for hearings of their own to determine how contracts like these are approved and justified.

As Governor Walz continues to balance his role on the national stage with the demands of governing his state, critics argue that taxpayer money should be used to support Minnesotans directly—not political defense strategies.

The issue is expected to remain a political flashpoint, especially if Walz continues to position himself for broader influence beyond Minnesota.