Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan on Monday forcefully rejected accusations that she was secretly using a Signal account tied to groups that online sleuths say tracked federal immigration officers in Minneapolis. She called the allegation "ridiculous" and argued it distracts from mutual-aid work on the ground and from the unrest that followed recent federal enforcement actions. The claim surfaced while the city is already tense after separate confrontations between residents and federal agents.
Flanagan pushes back
In an interview with FOX 9, Flanagan responded bluntly: "That's ridiculous. That's not me." She said her focus is on getting groceries and mutual aid to families, not running covert chat channels. Flanagan told the station that the social-media effort to tie her to the account is an attempt to pull attention away from what is actually happening in the streets. Her office has publicly pushed back against online posts that tried to link the handle "Flan Southside" to the lieutenant governor.
How the claims surfaced
The thread that kicked off the controversy came from independent journalist Cam Higby, who said he had "infiltrated" several Signal groups and then posted screenshots that appeared to show members discussing "dispatch" calls and sharing vehicle details. Some users homed in on an admin list that included a handle similar to "Flan Southside," and speculation quickly followed that it might refer to Flanagan. That supposed connection has not been independently verified. FBI Director Kash Patel said on a podcast that he opened an inquiry after Higby’s posts, according to The Guardian.
Federal response and free-speech questions
Free-speech advocates caution that sharing legally obtained information about government activity, including where federal officers are operating, can fall under First Amendment protections, and they argue that a criminal investigation should rest on more than a viral social thread. Civil-liberties experts told Reason there may be "no lawful basis" for a broad probe if there is no clear evidence of a plan to harm officers. Federal officials, for their part, say they will review whether any messages crossed the line into doxxing, threats, or obstruction.
Political stakes for a Senate bid
The controversy lands as Flanagan is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026, a race that already has statewide attention. The Star Tribune reports she entered the contest after Sen. Tina Smith announced she would not seek re-election. Party strategists say that in a high-profile race, even local dustups can quickly turn into national talking points. That means any allegation, even one not proven, could complicate a campaign that has already drawn endorsements and heavy interest.
What’s next
Federal authorities have not said who, if anyone, is a target of the inquiry or what charges might be on the table. Investigators are reportedly reviewing body-worn camera footage and cellphone video tied to recent enforcement operations, according to The Guardian. All of this is unfolding against the backdrop of two fatal encounters this month involving federal agents, including the Jan. 24 killing of Alex Pretti, which has intensified scrutiny of federal tactics and fueled debate over protest, privacy, and public safety. TIME has detailed the wider fallout as investigators continue to piece together what happened.
