GOP Lawmakers Slam Walz Over Bizarre Move

Republican lawmakers in Minnesota are slamming Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) after it was revealed he spent $430,000 in taxpayer funds on legal help for a congressional hearing.

The hearing, led by a GOP-controlled House committee, was focused on sanctuary city policies in Democrat-run states, including Minnesota.

The Star Tribune uncovered invoices showing that Walz’s office hired the international law firm K&L Gates.

The firm assisted the governor in preparing for his June testimony before the House Oversight Committee. The preparation effort spanned from April 10 to the day of the hearing, June 12.

In the month of May alone, legal fees for Walz’s preparation reached $232,000.

According to the invoices, the firm charged an average of $516 per hour, contributing to the total cost of $430,000 by the time of the hearing, per the Conservative Brief.

State Rep. Jim Nash, one of two Republicans on Minnesota’s Legislative Advisory Commission, criticized the decision to hire outside counsel. He questioned why Walz didn’t use state-employed lawyers or communications staff for preparation.

Nash argued that since Walz had served in Congress previously, and the state attorney general had also been a member, both should have had the experience to handle the hearing without private legal assistance. He described the half-million-dollar expense as excessive.

Nash also vowed to review the invoices more closely, suggesting he might pursue further accountability for the spending. He believes taxpayers deserve transparency about the decision to hire outside legal counsel.

Fellow Republican lawmaker Harry Niska echoed similar concerns, saying the state’s expenses appeared to be more for public relations than legal necessity. He emphasized that Walz should be well-versed in congressional procedure given his 12-year tenure in Washington.

Niska accused Walz of using taxpayer funds to further personal political goals, potentially laying the foundation for a national campaign. He called the expense “unconscionable” and a misuse of public money.

The Walz administration didn’t provide a direct explanation for the spending. Instead, they deflected criticism by accusing Republicans of orchestrating a politically motivated event rather than a serious hearing.

Teddy Tschann, a spokesperson for Walz, described the hearing as a staged political event designed to score points rather than gather useful information. He suggested that GOP Representatives Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber were responsible for the unnecessary cost.

Tschann also criticized Republicans for being more focused on theatrics than actually engaging with the governor’s immigration policy views. He defended Walz by pointing out that the hearing accomplished little beyond partisan spectacle.

When questioned directly about the large legal bill, Walz claimed the hearing wasn’t a worthwhile use of resources. He said he didn’t want to spend money or time on what he viewed as a show trial.

Walz maintained that the hearing revealed no wrongdoing and was simply a platform for political grandstanding. He defended his administration’s actions while blaming Republicans for the expensive preparation.

This incident is not isolated. Earlier this year, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced she expected to spend $650,000 on legal assistance for a similar congressional hearing.

Likewise, Denver paid $250,000 to outside counsel to help prepare Mayor Mike Johnston for testimony before Congress. According to Fox News, this suggests a growing trend of public officials relying on costly legal help for Washington appearances.

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