Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday that the Department of Justice has opened investigations into Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot for actions allegedly aimed at exposing and obstructing federal immigration agents during ongoing enforcement operations.

Bondi confirmed the investigations during an appearance on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime,” following recent remarks from Lightfoot about a new project intended to publicly identify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents.

Washington D.C – January 15, 2025: Senate Judiciary Committee considers the nomination of Pamela Bondi for Attorney General.

Speaking to Fox 32 Chicago earlier this week, Lightfoot said her team was developing a digital platform to track and reveal agents’ alleged “criminal actions.”

“We want to create a centralized archive of all the purported criminal actions of ICE and CBP agents,” Lightfoot said. “We want to create a portal where what’s happening real time can be centralized and put out for the public to view.”

Bondi told Watters that the Justice Department had already sent Lightfoot a legal notice ordering her to preserve all relevant records connected to the creation of the database. She said the department is investigating possible violations of federal law, including endangerment and obstruction of justice.

“She will be getting a letter from us tomorrow to preserve anything that she’s done, as well to make sure that she’s not violating the law. It appears she is,” Bondi said. “You cannot disclose the identity of a federal agent, where they live, anything that could harm them.”

Washington,DC, United States, May 8 2025, Pam Bondi attends an event in the East room at the White House

The attorney general added that similar notices have been sent to other prominent Democrats believed to have coordinated or supported efforts to target federal law enforcement personnel.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Do you think Jimmy Kimmel's apology about his comments about Charlie Kirk was sincere?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

“Pritzker? Same ballgame with him. Pelosi got a letter today from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. So did Brooke Jenkins, that DA in San Francisco,” Bondi said.

“We told them, preserve your emails, preserve everything you have on this topic, because if you are telling people to arrest our ICE officers, our federal agents — you cannot do that. You’re impeding an investigation, and we will charge them if they think I won’t.”

Bondi said the Department of Justice is acting to protect federal law enforcement officers who continue to operate across the country despite ongoing disruptions caused by the government shutdown.

“They’re out there working nonstop, as you’re showing right now, during a shutdown,” she told Watters.

“These people are out there working to keep Californians safe, yet you’ve got Pelosi out there saying to obstruct their investigation, you can’t do it, and we’re going to investigate her now, as well as that DA. And Pritzker is on the list too, Jesse.”

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has faced previous criticism for directing state officials to resist federal immigration enforcement. Earlier this year, Pritzker suggested that federal agents who conduct immigration operations in Illinois could be arrested under state law.

In addition, Chicago’s city council passed an ordinance restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including attempts to prevent ICE from carrying out enforcement actions at specific city-designated “safe” locations.

California officials have made similar statements opposing federal enforcement activity. Pelosi said Wednesday that agents who operate within the state without local coordination could face “legal consequences.”

Bondi reiterated that such threats and actions violate federal law, which grants immigration agents the authority to enforce statutes nationwide.

The attorney general emphasized that any public disclosure of agents’ personal information — including names, addresses, or family details — constitutes a criminal offense under federal statutes protecting law enforcement personnel.

As of Thursday night, the Justice Department confirmed that preservation orders have been issued to multiple offices connected to the investigation.

Additional subpoenas are expected in the coming days as federal prosecutors review communications and directives tied to efforts to obstruct immigration operations.