Tim Walz Blasted For Costing Minnesota Taxpayers $430k In Legal Prep Ahead Of Hill Hearing

Republican authorities lawmakers successful Minnesota person not held backmost pinch disapproval aft news Gov. Tim Walz spent $430,000 successful payer money to hole for a House legislature proceeding probing bluish authorities governors connected their "sanctuary city" policies. 

Invoices obtained by nan Star Tribune of Minnesota uncovered that Walz's agency contracted pinch high-powered world rule patient K&L Gates to hole for nan governor's mid-June hearing successful beforehand of nan GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee, which included questions astir his and different bluish authorities governors' "sanctuary city" policies. 

In May alone, Walz incurred ineligible fees of astir $232,000, according to invoices nan Star Tribune obtained. This balanced retired to a complaint of astir $516 per hour, nan section outlet noted.

In total, according to nan Star Tribune, K&L Gates worked pinch Walz's agency from April 10 until nan June 12 hearing, costing taxpayers $430,000 for nan ineligible preparation. 

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul be a House Committee connected Oversight and Government Reform proceeding June 12, 2025, astatine nan U.S. Capitol successful Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Minnesota GOP Rep. Jim Nash, one of 2 Republicans connected nan state's Legislative Advisory Commission, questioned why Walz felt compelled to get extracurricular counsel alternatively than activity pinch nan state's attorneys and nationalist relations specialists.

"A half a cardinal dollars of payer money to hole nan politician to spell to his aged stomping grounds seems exorbitant, peculiarly since nan AG for nan state of Minnesota was successful Congress pinch Walz astatine nan aforesaid time, and nan 2 of them surely could person figured retired really to do what they were needing to do," he said.

Nash added that he intends to excavation deeper into scrutinizing nan invoices obtained by nan Star Tribune.

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Gov. Tim Walz drew backlash for hiring extracurricular ineligible counsel to prep for a GOP grilling connected Capitol Hill successful June, which near Minnesota taxpayers connected nan hook for a measure of astir $500,000. (Getty Images)

Republican Minnesota authorities Rep. Harry Niska noted location "appears to beryllium nary morganatic ineligible liking successful nan authorities racking up astir half-a-million dollars successful what amounts to PR consulting."

"Tim Walz spent 12 years successful Congress — he knows those proceeding rooms wrong and out, and he surely knows really to behaviour himself successful that type of setting. So, why did nan politician consciousness nan request to walk $430,000 of payer money connected a backstage patient to ‘prepare’ for this hearing?" Niska asked. 

"To beryllium clear, location appears to beryllium nary morganatic ineligible liking of nan authorities successful racking up astir half a cardinal dollars successful what amounts to PR consulting arsenic he tries to laic nan groundwork for a statesmanlike run that’s going perfectly nowhere. It is unconscionable to make hardworking Minnesota taxpayers salary for nan governor’s individual nationalist governmental aspirations."

In consequence to nan disapproval complete Walz's determination to statement pinch K&L Gates, some nan politician and his squad sidestepped offering an explanation. Instead, they suggested nan blasted fell astatine nan feet of Republicans for holding a proceeding that served nary different intent than to "grandstand," according to nan Star Tribune.

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Tim Walz (Christopher Mark Juhn/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Teddy Tschann, a Walz spokesperson, described nan proceeding arsenic a "planned governmental stunt connected nan payer dime," nan Star Tribune reported.

"They were excessively engaged performing for nan cameras to moreover feign liking successful proceeding from Gov. Walz astir Minnesota’s balanced attack to immigration," Tschann added. "What’s astir frustrating is that Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber planned this spectacle knowing what it would costs and went done pinch it anyway."

When asked straight astir nan ineligible bill, Walz told reporters nan GOP-led proceeding was "not wherever I wanted to walk money. It’s not wherever I wanted to walk my time, and it surely proved that location was thing location different than utilizing it arsenic grandstanding."

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While nan hefty ineligible measure has garnered Walz backlash this week, it wouldn't beryllium nan first clip a politician has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars connected ineligible advice. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said earlier this twelvemonth aft attending a proceeding successful nan nation's superior she expected to salary astir $650,000 to nan rule patient that helped her prepare. 

The City of Denver besides forked complete $250,000 for extracurricular ineligible counsel earlier this twelvemonth to hole nan city's mayor, Mike Johnston, for a legislature hearing.

Fox News Digital reached retired to Walz's agency and K&L Gates for remark but did not person a consequence from either.