Mike Lindell Calls for Federal Investigation into MN AG Keith Ellison and MN SoS Steve Simon for Alleged Partisan Abuse of Their Elected Office

Chaska, Minnesota — Mike Lindell, businessman, election integrity advocate, and candidate for Governor of Minnesota, today announced that he has formally requested a federal investigation into alleged partisan misuse of state election offices and nonprofit organizations in Minnesota.

In a letter sent to United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota, Lindell asks the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate potential violations of the Hatch Act, federal tax law governing 501(c)(3) charities, and other federal election statutes arising from two events involving Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon.

The first event is the “We Choose Us” Defending Democracy Summit, held on or about June 21, 2025, where Attorney General Ellison, Secretary Simon, appearing virtually, and State Representative Emma Greenman appeared in their official capacities before what Lindell described as a one-sided partisan audience, with no opposing voices invited.

The second is an April 30, 2026, Minnesota Secretary of State Zoom Town Hall featuring Secretary Simon and David Becker, Executive Director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, or CEIR. The event occurred less than four months before the August 11, 2026, primary election and, according to the letter, included explicit voter recruitment and mobilization language directed at a politically selected audience using official state resources.

Minnesotans deserve election officials who serve all voters, not partisan machines that use taxpayer-funded offices to organize political campaigns. When the Attorney General and Secretary of State appear as partisan organizers while using the credibility and resources of their official offices, it raises serious questions under federal law. If we want honest elections, we have to enforce the rules even when the alleged violators are powerful politicians.

Areas of Concern Outlined in the Letter

• Potential Hatch Act Violations

  Allegations that Attorney General Ellison and Secretary Simon used their official titles, offices, and federally funded resources connected to election administration to influence the outcome of the 2026 election.

• Possible Misuse of 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Status

  Concerns that “We Choose Us,” related organizations, and CEIR may have hosted partisan campaign activity and get-out-the-vote efforts for one side in violation of IRS restrictions on political intervention by charitable organizations.

• Misuse of HAVA-Funded State Resources

  Allegations that the Secretary of State’s official website, mnvotes.gov, and other state election infrastructure funded under the Help America Vote Act were used to engage and mobilize a partisan audience heading into the 2026 election.

• Obstruction of a Lawful DOJ Voter-Data Request

  Concerns that Secretary Simon used a partisan forum to brief political allies on resisting a Department of Justice request for Minnesota voter-registration data, potentially impeding a federal agency proceeding.

In the letter, Lindell requests that the U.S. Attorney’s Office open a preliminary inquiry, refer the Hatch Act allegations to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, refer the nonprofit and campaign-finance concerns to the IRS Criminal Investigation Division and the Department of Justice Public Integrity Section, and ask the Election Assistance Commission Inspector General to review any misuse of federal election funds.

This is not about Republicans or Democrats; it’s about the rule of law. If we allow election officials to turn their public offices into campaign headquarters, trust in our elections collapses. As Governor, I will fight to ensure Minnesota’s election systems are transparent, lawful, and truly nonpartisan—and that public office is never used as a political weapon.

Lindell emphasized that he is not presuming the outcome of any investigation but is demanding equal application of the law, regardless of political party or position.

I’m simply asking the federal government to look at the evidence and apply the law fairly. Minnesota families work hard and pay their taxes. They should never have to wonder if their own tax dollars are funding partisan operations inside the Attorney General’s Office or the Secretary of State’s Office. My campaign for Governor is about restoring integrity, accountability, and confidence in our elections.

For More Information

To read the full letter submitted to the U.S. Attorney’s Office or to learn more about Mike Lindell’s plan to restore public-service integrity in Minnesota, contact the Mike Lindell for Governor campaign at contact@mikelindellgov.com or visit MikeLindellGov.com .