Retired Minnesota State Patrol Lieutenant John Nagel has launched a scathing critique of Governor Tim Walz’s record on public safety, particularly during the unrest that followed the death of George Floyd in 2020. Nagel, who is running for office as a Republican in Minnesota House District 46A, claims that Walz is not a moderate as he is often portrayed but rather has an anti-police stance, evidenced by his actions and statements.
Nagel contends that Walz intentionally allowed Minneapolis to burn during the riots, citing the governor’s slow response to calls for National Guard deployment. He believes this delay was not simply incompetence but a deliberate political calculation. “We’re hearing this over and over and over again, he let Minneapolis burn,” Nagel said. “I think he intentionally let Minneapolis burn.”
He further points to Walz’s support for “alternatives to policing” and his lack of support for law enforcement during the riots as evidence of his stance. This sentiment is shared by many within the law enforcement community, with the widow of Pope County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Owen, who was killed in the line of duty, refusing to invite Walz to her husband’s funeral due to his perceived lack of support for law enforcement.
Nagel also criticizes Walz for his handling of rising crime rates in Minnesota, arguing that the governor’s policies are detrimental to public safety. He believes that Walz has played a significant role in “the dismantling of public safety in Minnesota” and that the governor’s actions have contributed to a decline in public safety and driven people away from the state.
In response to a question about what voters need to know about Walz, Nagel painted a stark picture, describing him as “untruthful,” “power hungry,” and not genuinely concerned for the well-being of the people. He believes Walz is more concerned with his own agenda and aligning with Democrat policies. “He’s going to be lockstep with whatever the Democrats want, and I think it would be, just take a look at Minnesota, he’s ruined Minnesota along with this trifecta of the Democrats,” Nagel asserted.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris-Walz campaign for comment but did not receive a response. The criticism from Nagel underscores the deep political divide over public safety in Minnesota, with Republicans accusing Walz of failing to adequately support law enforcement and Democrats defending his record.
