ICYMI: DNC Slams Trump and Bondi’s Attempt to Extort Minnesota for State Voter Rolls Following Alex Pretti’s Murder Arrow

Yesterday, in the wake of the murder of Alex Pretti at the hands of federal immigration agents and Attorney General Pam Bondi sending Minnesota Governor Tim Walz a letter connecting federal violence in Minnesota to the state's refusal to hand over its unredacted voter file, the DNC responded to Bondi's letter with a simple message: "Get ICE the hell out of Minnesota. Now."

This move by Bondi is the latest in the DOJ's ongoing campaign to undermine local elections and build a national voter database.

For months, Donald Trump and Pam Bondi have attempted to force states like Minnesota to hand over their voter files so that the Trump administration can create a national database with sensitive personal information like driver's license numbers, Social Security numbers, and party affiliation. This database would provide Trump with a directory for his ongoing campaign of political retribution and pose a serious threat to Americans' privacy from an administration that has repeatedly mishandled Americans' sensitive personal information.

The DNC will continue fighting, including in the courts, to protect our democracy and the rights of voters in Minnesota and across the country.

Take a look at some of the coverage below:

CNN: "We heard this in a letter from Attorney General Pamela Bondi to Governor Tim Walz. She wrote saying that if he repeals sanctuary policies and shares Medicaid food assistance and voter data, they could 'bring an end to this chaos in Minnesota.' Democratic National Committee officials [are] saying that is extortion."

The Hill: Bondi outlines terms for Walz to 'restore the rule of law' in Minnesota after fatal shooting: Reports

[Tara Suter, 1/25/26]

"In a Sunday statement, Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair Ken Martin slammed Bondi's reported letter.

"'Pam Bondi drafted and sent a threatening letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz attempting to extort the state into handing over its voter rolls as part of an ongoing campaign to undermine local elections and build a national database for Trump's political revenge and retribution,' Martin, who is from Minnesota, said in the statement.

"'The Trump administration thinks it can threaten and intimidate through violence and coercion, but they're wrong. The DNC will stand with local elected officials and fight like hell, including in the courts, to protect our democracy and the rights of voters in Minnesota and across the country,' he added."

CNN: Trump administration redoubles immigration enforcement strategy as cracks emerge in the president's coalition

[Betsy Klein, Alayna Treene, Priscilla Alvarez, and Kristen Holmes, 1/25/26]

"The letter drew an immediate rebuke from the Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, who derided it as an attempt at extortion that would help 'undermine local elections and build a national database for Trump's political revenge and retribution.'"

NOTUS: Democrats Decry Bondi's 'Blackmail' Letter to Tim Walz Following CBP Shooting

[Christa Dutton, 1/25/26]

"Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both said that Bondi was trying to 'extort' the state into handing over its voter files. Sen. Ruben Gallego called it a 'shakedown.'

"'They're using fear to get their hands on voter information. In America, you don't get to strong-arm your way into our elections,' he wrote on X."

Washington Post: Border Patrol sidesteps questions about Pretti shooting; police chief criticizes agents

[Mariana Alfaro, 1/25/26]

"Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of attempting to extort the state of Minnesota and Gov. Tim Walz (D) after she sent a letter demanding state voter rolls mere hours after Border Patrol shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti.

"The move is 'part of an ongoing campaign to undermine local elections and build a national database for Trump's political revenge and retribution,' Martin said in a statement on Sunday. 'The Trump administration thinks it can threaten and intimidate through violence and coercion, but they're wrong. The DNC will stand with local elected officials and fight like hell, including in the courts, to protect our democracy and the rights of voters in Minnesota and across the country.'"

Newsweek: Pam Bondi Offers To Pull ICE out of Minneapolis if Voter Files Handed Over

[Newsweek Staff, 1/25/26]

"DNC Chair Ken Martin issued the following statement in response to Bondi's letter, which was shared with Newsweek via email: 'Last night, following the heinous murder of US citizen Alex Pretti at the hands of a federal immigration agent, Pam Bondi drafted and sent a threatening letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz attempting to extort the state into handing over its voter rolls as part of an ongoing campaign to undermine local elections and build a national database for Trump's political revenge and retribution. The Trump administration thinks it can threaten and intimidate through violence and coercion, but they're wrong. The DNC will stand with local elected officials and fight like hell, including in the courts, to protect our democracy and the rights of voters in Minnesota and across the country.'"

Pioneer Press: Trump administration ties demands for MN voter, welfare data to ICE surge

[Alex Derosier, 1/25/26]

"Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, who led Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party until last year, called the Bondi letter an attempt to 'extort' the state.

"'Last night, following the heinous murder of US citizen Alex Pretti at the hands of a federal immigration agent, Pam Bondi drafted and sent a threatening letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz attempting to extort the state into handing over its voter rolls as part of an ongoing campaign to undermine local elections and build a national database for Trump's political revenge and retribution,' Martin said in a statement."

KTTC: US AG Pam Bondi writes letter to Governor Walz, warning of Minnesota immigration policy endangering agents

[Ryan Paris, 1/25/26]

"DNC Chair Ken Martin also commented on the letter from Bondi, calling the letter 'threatening.'

"'Last night, following the heinous murder of US citizen Alex Pretti at the hands of a federal immigration agent, Pam Bondi drafted and sent a threatening letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz attempting to extort the state into handing over its voter rolls as part of an ongoing campaign to undermine local elections and build a national database for Trump's political revenge and retribution.

"'The Trump administration thinks it can threaten and intimidate through violence and coercion, but they're wrong. The DNC will stand with local elected officials and fight like hell, including in the courts, to protect our democracy and the rights of voters in Minnesota and across the country.

"'For Donald Trump, Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem, and Greg Bovino, we have one message for you: Get ICE the hell out of Minnesota. Now.'"

BIN: Pam Bondi Seeks Voter Data, Policy Changes After Killing Of Alex Pretti

[BIN Staff, 1/26/26]

"The Democratic National Committee says the Trump administration has repeatedly pressured states to hand over unredacted voter files as part of a broader effort to build a national database, warning the move threatens voter privacy and election integrity. The DNC is currently fighting similar DOJ efforts in court.

"DNC Chair Ken Martin called Bondi's letter a 'threatening attempt to extort the state,' saying Democrats will challenge the administration's actions through legal channels."