⚖️ 1. Scope & Timeline

• The legal fees—totaling $430,000—were billed between April and mid-June 2025, covering preparation for his testimony before the House Oversight Committee on June 12.

• Invoices for April/May totaled about $265,000; June invoices (≈ $165,000) are still pending release.

💼 2. Who billed and at what rates

• Legal work was performed by 23 professionals from D.C. law firm K&L Gates—partners, associates, even librarians—billing rates from $350 to $700 per hour.

🧾 3. Notable billed items

• $70 to review a letter inviting Walz to testify.

• $1,035 for researching “anti‑transgender comments” made by House Oversight Committee members.

• $2,880 for over six hours reviewing case law on issues like “executive orders” and “separation of powers.”

• $2,340 for reviewing emails and formulating responses to questions.

👥 4. Why outside counsel?

• Walz’s office explained that the state Attorney General’s team lacked specialized expertise needed for congressional-level preparation. They said in‑house counsel couldn’t have provided the same support. The AG’s office had a pre-existing contract with K&L Gates for “special attorney” services.

• Walz himself called the hearing a “ridiculous grandstanding” session by Republicans and described the legal prep as “not where I wanted to spend money or time.”

🚨 5. Criticism & Political Fallout

• GOP lawmakers, including Reps. Harry Niska and Jim Nash, sharply criticized the expenditure, saying it resembled public relations consulting more than legal support. Niska accused Walz of using Minnesota taxpayers to boost his national standing.

• They argue Walz’s prior congressional experience—along with AG Keith Ellison’s—should’ve sufficed for hearing preparation.

• Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber, Republican Oversight Committee members, were accused of orchestrating the hearing for political theater. Walz’s team labeled it “a planned political stunt on the taxpayer dime.”

🔍 6. Broader context

• This type of billing isn’t unique: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu reportedly spent $650,000, and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston spent $250,000 on similar legal prepping for Capitol Hill hearings.

• Minnesota’s Finance Commissioner Erin Campbell authorized a $430,000 transfer from the state’s general fund to cover these specialized services.

📌 Summary

Minnesota taxpayers funded a hefty $430,000 legal bill aimed at prepping Gov. Walz for a high-profile congressional hearing. The spending attracted backlash for its size and for reliance on elite external counsel to conduct research and provided coaching that critics say should’ve been handled in-house. The governor and his team defended the move as a necessary response to a politically motivated drama by Republicans.

Let me know if you’d like a deeper dive—like comparing Minnesota’s prep costs to other states, seeing the full June invoices once released, or exploring how oversight hearings are handled procedurally.