Minnesota attorney Chris Madel ends campaign for governor, calls ICE operation an 'unmitigated disaster'
By: Josh Skluzacek (KSTP. com Eyewitness News)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
By KSTP
Madel drops out of governor race
Madel blasted the ongoing ICE operations in Minnesota and Republican Party leadership.
As questions swirl around possible new entrants into the race for Minnesota governor, one of the candidates already in the race has dropped out.
On Monday morning, local attorney Chris Madel announced that he's ending his campaign over objections to how federal immigration enforcement operations are being conducted.
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Madel, most recently known publicly for defending State Trooper Ryan Londregan and advising U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross, called "Operation Metro Surge" an "unmitigated disaster" that has created "extreme challenges" for local police officers.
"I cannot support the national Republicans' stated 'retribution' on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so," Madel said in his announcement.
The Republican candidate added, "I support the originally stated goals of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Operation Metro Surge and locating and deporting the 'worst of the worst' from our state," noting that he's liked the work to remove dangerous criminals from the street.
"But Operation Metro Surge has expanded far beyond its stated focus on true public safety threats," he said. "United States citizens, particularly those of color, live in fear. United States citizens are carrying their papers to prove their citizenship. That's wrong."
Madel noted he's personally heard from local law enforcement officers of color who've been pulled over by ICE on pretextual stops, and also called ICE's raiding of homes using civil warrants "unconstitutional" and "wrong," as is "weaponizing criminal investigations against political opponents."
The attorney centered his campaign on fighting fraud, supporting law enforcement and improving accountability, something he still said is greatly needed in the state. However, he blamed national Republicans for making it "nearly impossible" for a Republican to win a statewide election in Minnesota, and also placed some blame on Minnesota GOP leaders for failing to take enough action to investigate fraud and hold people accountable.
"At the end of the day, I have to look my daughters in the eye and tell them I believe what I did is right, and I am doing that today," he said.
The Republican field for governor remains crowded and includes several candidates who say they'll run in a primary with or without the Republican Party endorsement.
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He sounds like he is probably a "Reagan republican" , and not MAGA, but that is really immaterial.
A decent human being. And a Republican. A very rare combination nowadays.
Exactly my thoughts.
My parents and siblings were all republicans but also good folk at heart so I have always been able to forgive them for their slight lapse of judgement.
We need a lot more Republicans like that. Good for him.
Wow! Make a statue of this man quick, the last Republican spine on earth.