ICE accused Politico senior reporter Josh Gerstein of "inciting violence" after he suggested on X that door‑knocking near home daycares could intersect with stand‑your‑ground laws amid a federal fraud probe in Minnesota. DHS has dispatched agents to Minneapolis to inspect daycares, health facilities and other sites, and the DOJ has charged 98 people. Officials say as much as half of roughly $18 billion billed to 14 state programs since 2018 may be fraudulent, prompting a state‑ordered audit and new program integrity measures. The exchange spotlights tensions between reporting, law enforcement and legal defenses in an evolving investigation.
ICE Accuses Politico Reporter Josh Gerstein Of 'Inciting Violence' Over X Post About Minnesota Daycare Door-Knocking
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) publicly accused Politico senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein on Tuesday of "inciting violence against federal agents" after a post he made on X suggested that door‑knocking near home daycares could intersect with stand‑your‑ground laws amid a sweeping fraud probe in Minnesota.
What Gerstein Posted And ICE's Response
Gerstein wrote on X that "At some point, the amateur effort to knock on doors of home daycares intersects with robust stand-your-ground laws." ICE replied on X, "You would think a 'Senior Legal Affairs Reporter' for POLITICO would know better than to tweet something inciting violence against federal agents." Politico has been asked for comment.
Gerstein later defended his post on X, saying that "to observe that something is likely to happen or there's a serious risk of it happening is not to advocate for it happening."
Federal And State Actions In Minnesota
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it has dispatched investigative agents to Minneapolis to support a federal probe into alleged fraud in Minnesota's social services programs. DHS said agents are inspecting daycares, health care facilities and "other suspected sites."
Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X that the Department of Justice has charged 98 people in connection with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson told reporters earlier this month that it is possible that "half or more" of the roughly $18 billion billed to 14 programs administered by Minnesota's Department of Human Services since 2018 may be fraudulent.
State Response And Oversight
Gov. Tim Walz (D) ordered a third‑party audit of the 14 programs involved, including the now‑closed Housing Stabilization Services program, and appointed a director of program integrity to lead state efforts to detect and prevent fraud. Walz said his administration "will continue to work with our federal partners to ensure fraud is stopped and fraudsters are caught."
Legal Context: Stand‑Your‑Ground And Minnesota Law
Minnesota does not have a statutory "stand‑your‑ground" law that broadly permits the use of deadly force in public without a duty to retreat. State statutes do provide that people in their homes are not required to retreat and may use deadly force to prevent certain felonies from occurring inside a residence. The Minnesota Supreme Court has issued rulings limiting any duty to retreat in some circumstances, but whether that legal framework applies to confrontations on private property such as home daycares would depend on the facts and applicable case law.
Why It Matters
The dispute highlights tensions between media commentary, federal enforcement activity and public safety concerns as authorities probe alleged large‑scale fraud. It also underscores how discussion of legal defenses and enforcement tactics can quickly become politicized during high‑profile investigations.
Note: The Hill and other outlets have asked for comment from ICE and Politico; developments may continue as the federal and state investigations proceed.
