Ellison, GOP senators clash in fiery US Senate hearing: ‘You ought to be in jail!’

One of the most intense exchanges came when Sen. Josh Hawley pressed Attorney General Keith Ellison over his past interactions with individuals connected to the Feeding Our Future scandal

By
Jenna Gloeb
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Hawley Ellison
Sen. Josh Hawley grills Attorney General Keith Ellison on the Feeding Our Future scandal during a Feb. 12, 2026, hearing. (Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee/Screenshot)

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison found himself in the hot seat Thursday as Republican senators accused him of encouraging people to obstruct federal immigration enforcement, emboldening anti-ICE activists, and maintaining troubling ties to individuals later charged in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.

The hearing formally centered on federal-local cooperation in immigration enforcement and whether Minnesota policies have impeded U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Republicans argued that Ellison’s rhetoric and political decisions reveal a larger pattern of hostility toward federal law enforcement.

Sen. Johnson accuses Ellison of encouraging activists

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., accused Ellison of encouraging “trained activists to put themselves in harm’s way to impede law enforcement” and pressed him about anti-ICE activists using Signal chats to coordinate actions during federal immigration operations.

Ellison told the panel he was aware the chats “exist, but this is First Amendment activity.”

Johnson responded by accusing Ellison of encouraging activists to interfere with law enforcement: “You encouraged trained activists to put themselves in harm’s way to impede law enforcement … does that concern you?”

Ellison denied the allegation: “That never happened. We at all times said if you want to protest, protest peacefully, protest safely.”

Johnson escalated his criticism by drawing a link between anti-ICE activity and the recent shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

“Two people are dead because you encouraged them to put themselves in harm’s way,” Johnson said. “A tragedy was going to happen and you encouraged it, and you ought to feel damn guilty about it.”

At one point, Ellison appeared to smile, prompting Johnson to fire back: “Yeah, sit there and smirk. Sick. It’s despicable!”

“Are you asking me for comment, senator?” Ellison pushed back. “Because everything you’ve said is untrue. It was a nice theatrical performance, but it was all lies.”

Sen. Hawley confronts Ellison over meeting with fraudsters

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., pressed Ellison over his past interactions with individuals connected to the Feeding Our Future scandal, accusing him of enabling what federal prosecutors have described as one of the largest COVID-era fraud schemes in the country.

“They complained to you for upwards of an hour about state investigators going after them and they begged you to help them and you agreed to it,” Hawley said, referencing a recorded meeting between Ellison and some of the individuals later charged in the case.

“You’ve been right at the center of this fraud from the beginning and you’ve enabled it, and sir you ought to resign,” Hawley added.

The exchange grew increasingly personal.

“Don’t call me pal,” Ellison said at one point after Hawley addressed him.

“I should call you prisoner because you ought to be in jail,” Hawley responded.

“Well, see what you can do about it,” Ellison shot back.

Sen. Moreno presses Ellison on deportation

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, pressed Ellison on whether individuals who enter the country illegally should be deported.

“If you enter the country illegally or you overstay a visa, should you be deported?” Moreno asked.

“My simple answer is, sir, it depends,” Ellison replied.

“OK, so somebody breaks into your home — should they be arrested for breaking and entering, or does it depend?” Moreno shot back.

“It’s an entirely different scenario,” Ellison said. “Because immigration is essentially a civil [matter] and breaking into my house is a criminal matter.”

“So we shouldn’t enforce civil violations?” Moreno asked.

“We absolutely should enforce them,” Ellison responded.

Sen. Paul questions local cooperation with ICE

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., pressed Ellison on whether the Minneapolis Police Department assists ICE in arresting people.

“A month ago, if ICE called the local Minneapolis police and said we want to arrest this person, will the Minneapolis police help ICE to arrest a person?” Paul asked.

“I think so, yes,” Ellison responded.

However, last month Minneapolis’ community safety commissioner wrote: “Our city has clear policies — rooted in our separation ordinance — that govern police response to federal immigration enforcement. Minneapolis police do not participate in or assist federal immigration enforcement activities.”

Border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday morning that “Operation Metro Surge” will be coming to an end in the coming days. The operation began in December as the Trump administration surged federal agents into Minnesota to conduct immigration enforcement.

 

Jenna Gloeb
Website

Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.

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