Political group accuses Frey of improperly deleting texts. Some advocates and media lawyers agree.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is accused by the political action committee Minneapolis for the Many of deleting work-related texts, suggesting a breach of state transparency laws. The mayor maintains he has complied with legal requirements, with the backing of the City Attorney’s Office. The committee's requests for records related to the June federal raid on a Lake Street restaurant and last year’s shooting incident yielded no results, raising concerns about transparency. Experts differ on what constitutes substantive records, making it challenging to assess compliance. Frey's spokesperson stated that he routinely deletes “transitory” messages, which are not mandated to be preserved under state law.

The Minnesota Star Tribune sought records of the mayor's communications during a critical week, but the Mayor's Office claimed no such records existed. This controversy comes as Frey seeks re-election, with opponents arguing he has failed to uphold his transparency pledge. The legal ambiguity surrounding public records and retention practices adds complexity to the ongoing debate.