# Half Truth Reports *Minnesota's official truth, investigation and disparity reports, and the documented record they leave out* Minnesota institutions have issued official reports, findings and statements on the treatment of protected groups. This feature reads seven whose text could be retrieved on October 28, 2026: - the [[TRUTH Project]] report of the [[Minnesota Indian Affairs Council]] and the [[University of Minnesota]] (April 11, 2023);[^1] - the [[Minnesota Department of Human Rights]] investigation of the [[City of Minneapolis]] and the [[Minneapolis Police Department]] (April 27, 2022);[^2] - the City of Minneapolis report of the 2017 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study (March 2018);[^3] - the [[Ramsey County Historical Society]] land acknowledgement;[^4] - [[Executive Order 26-05]] (March 25, 2026);[^5] - [[The Advocates for Human Rights]]' page for the council that order created;[^6] - the City of Saint Paul's reparations record under [[Resolution 21-77]].[^7] An eighth document, the City of Minneapolis truth and reconciliation recommendations, could not be retrieved.[^8] Each report is set beside three things: its own text, the bills that would act on it, and the State's race- and sex-keyed instruments as they reach majority-group employees and students. A phrase search of the seven texts measures their scope. None of them contains "Maitland", "Rajender", "43A.191", "majority group", "reverse discrimination", "non-underrepresented" or "pay equity".[^9][^10][^11][^12][^13][^14][^15] The disparity study is the only one that contains "affirmative action" (59), "equal protection" (86) or "Title VII" (2). It also contains "white male" 244 times.[^11] The TRUTH Project report contains "white" 60 times, and the Human Rights investigation contains it 125 times.[^9][^10] On January 14, 2026, the [[United States Department of Justice]] sued the State in [[United States v. State of Minnesota (0:26-cv-00273)]] under [[Title VII]] of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]. The complaint alleges that the State's civil-service affirmative-action program under [[Minn. Stat. § 43A.19]] and [[Minnesota Statute §43A.191]] is unlawful.[^16] The Department's release No. 26-21 is titled *United States Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota's 'Affirmative Action' Regime*.[^17] The project's catalogue of U.S.-government "regime" usages finds Minnesota the only U.S. state so described.[^18] Attorney General Pamela Bondi certified the case as a matter of general public importance. The release says this designation entitles the United States to a three-judge district court and a direct appeal to the Supreme Court.[^17] As of the record (October 2026), the case is active and its allegations have not been adjudicated. This article does not adjudicate them, or the harms the reports describe.[^19] ## The reports ### TRUTH Project Report (2023) The report finds that "The Founding Board of Regents committed genocide and ethnic cleansing of Indigenous peoples for financial gain, using the institution as a shell corporation through which to launder lands and resources."[^20] It recommends "Land Back", under which "The Board of Regents must commit to annual review and rematriation of Indigenous lands". Citing the Morrill Act's Permanent University Fund, it states that "UMN must commit to perpetual reparations to Indigenous peoples."[^21] Its uses of "white" include the statement that "Institutions like UMN were founded to drive white settlement".[^22] The Council also hosts the report's executive summary, a University press release and a project page.[^23][^24][^25] ### Investigation into the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department (2022) The Department examined whether the City and its police department violated the [[Minnesota Human Rights Act]] "for a pattern or practice of race discrimination". The report states that the Department opened its investigation "after an MPD officer murdered George Floyd on May 25, 2020."[^26] The Department found "probable cause that the City and MPD engage in a pattern or practice of race discrimination in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act."[^27] ### Truth and Reconciliation Working Group Final Recommendations (City of Minneapolis) The record lists this undated [[Working Group]] document on the City's legislative information system. Its text was blocked by a robots exclusion on October 28, 2026. It is therefore named by title only and is excluded from the phrase audit.[^8] ### 2017 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study, City of Minneapolis Final Report (2018) Keen Independent Research LLC prepared this report for the City of Minneapolis.[^3] It is one of the joint-study documents on the State's disparity-study page. That page also carries a draft MnDOT executive summary and an MMCD executive summary.[^28][^29][^30] The report examines the City's minority- and women-owned business goals. It states that "Different standards of legal review apply depending on whether a program considers the race, ethnicity or gender of a business owner".[^31] It compares outcomes for minority- and women-owned firms with those of similarly situated white male-owned companies, and it reports that the differences remain after controlling for other factors.[^32] ### Land Acknowledgement Statement (Ramsey County Historical Society) The statement is an undated page on the Society's website. The record's excerpts of its 7,502 characters show only site navigation, so this article does not quote its wording.[^4] ### Executive Order 26-05 and the Minnesota Truth Council (2026) The order establishes a Governor's council of "no more than 15 members" to record two federal immigration operations, which it names Metro Surge and PARRIS. The order states that "This record can help serve as a step towards our state's long-term recovery."[^5] It sets October 31, 2026 for preliminary findings and December 1, 2026 for a final report. It records that "The state of Minnesota has entered into an agreement with the Advocates for Human Rights" and states that "The Council does not have a law enforcement role". It also excludes reporting on named shootings.[^33] The Advocates' [[Minnesota Truth Council]] page states: "This is not a court. The Council will have no power to prosecute, convict, or impose penalties, or provide compensation."[^6] ### Resolution 21-77 and the Saint Paul Reparations Commission Resolution 21-77 is titled *Committing to racial healing through the exploration of reparations for American descendants of Chattel Slavery Living in Saint Paul*. It states that the [[Reparations Commission]] "will issue a report for consideration by the city". That report is to focus on subjects including "strategies to grow equity and generational wealth". The record page was last edited January 13, 2023.[^7] ## What the reports measure, and what they do not Table 1. Phrase counts in each report's text, retrieved October 28, 2026. The first row gives the number of characters of text searched.[^9][^10][^11][^12][^13][^14][^15] | Term | TRUTH Project | MDHR–MPD | Keen (Minneapolis) | RCHS | EO 26-05 | Advocates | Saint Paul | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | (characters) | 442,055 | 202,061 | 1,879,799 | 7,502 | 6,931 | 6,780 | 26,419 | | white men | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | white man | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | white male | 0 | 0 | 244 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | white males | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Caucasian | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | majority group | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | men | 25 | 11 | 66 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | male | 0 | 0 | 498 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Maitland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Rajender | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 43A.191 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | affirmative action | 0 | 0 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Title VII | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | reverse discrimination | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | non-underrepresented | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Duluth | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | pay equity | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | equal protection | 0 | 0 | 86 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | white | 60 | 125 | 785 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | The TRUTH Project report and the Human Rights investigation contain "affirmative action", "Title VII" and "equal protection" zero times.[^9][^10] Executive Order 26-05 and the Advocates' page contain every audited term zero times.[^13][^14] The counts that run the other way are in the Keen study, which contains "white male" 244 times, "white males" 14, "white men" 12, "Caucasian" 5 and "male" 498.[^11] A phrase count records whether a term is present, not why. The Rajender decrees (1980 and 1989), the Maitland suit (filed 1993) and §43A.191 (enacted 1981) all predate each dated report.[^34][^35] The record does not establish why none of the reports names them. ## The State's race- and sex-keyed instruments ### Minn. Stat. §43A.19 and §43A.191 Under §43A.191, an agency shall "(1) demonstrate a good faith effort to recruit protected group members by following an active recruitment plan; (2) implement a coordinated retention plan; and (3) have an established complaint resolution procedure". The commissioner must also publish annual data on the percentage of each protected group "hired in the executive branch in each of the federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) occupational categories applicable to state employment."[^36] The complaint makes three allegations about how the program operates:[^37] - §43A.19, subd. 1(a), requires "a statewide affirmative action program" to "eliminate the effects of past and present discrimination, intended or unintended, on the basis of protected group status". - Under Minn. R. 3905.0600, agency heads "likewise shall establish numerical goals by protected group". - Where "there is an underutilization of a protected group in a job category", a hiring manager must submit a Pre-Hire Justification Form that "explain[s] the reason for hiring a non-affirmative candidate". For this requirement the complaint cites §43A.191, subd. 3(c). According to the project's claim record, the complaint cites §43A.191 eight times. The same record states that Exhibit B to the complaint is DHS [[Hiring Justification Policy]] 4100.250, signed June 23, 2025 by Andrew Stephen Petroski, Director of the DHS Equal Opportunity and Access Division.[^38] The Revisor's history line, as transcribed in the project's claim record, lists the enactment (1981 c 210 s 19) and seven later session laws: 1986 c 444; 1995 c 248; 1996 c 390; 2004 c 277; 2007 c 13; 2019 1Sp1 c 10; and 2023 c 62.[^35] The project's Time Table instead counts five amendments, with the first in 1983. This article states the Revisor's figures.[^39] ### Office on the Economic Status of Women Minn. Stat. §3.303, subd. 7, directs that "The commission shall study and report to the legislature on all matters relating to the economic status of women in Minnesota".[^40] The project's claim record identifies the [[Office on the Economic Status of Women]] as the drafter of §43A.191 and its predecessors. The statute text in the record does not establish that role.[^41] ### University programs before the Office for Civil Rights **University of Minnesota College of Design.** On November 14, 2024, the Equal Protection Project filed a complaint with the [[U.S. Department of Education]]'s [[Office for Civil Rights]]. It alleges that a University College of Design program "violates Title VI because it conditions eligibility for participation the program on a student's race, ethnicity and skin color". It further alleges that, at a public university, the program violates the [[Equal Protection Clause]].[^42] On March 13, 2025, the Office opened an investigation under [[Title VI]] into a program alleged to offer "affinity spaces and programming that exclude and/or segregate individuals based on race and color". The record lists the docket as OCR 05-25-2077 ([[Equal Protection Project v. University of Minnesota (BIPOC Design Justice Initiative)]]).[^43] **Minnesota State University Moorhead.** On June 11, 2024, the same organization filed a complaint about Minnesota State University Moorhead scholarships open to students "from an underrepresented or underserved population". The complaint says the university defines that population by racial and ethnic identity. The record lists the matter, OCR 05-24-2452, as open ([[Equal Protection Project v. Minnesota State University Moorhead (race-based scholarships)]]).[^44] ### The Duluth model A 2003 [[National Institute of Justice]] report (NCJ 195079) states that the [[Duluth model]] "is based on the feminist theory that patriarchal ideology, which encourages men to control their partners, causes domestic violence". It describes two experimental evaluations. The Brooklyn evaluation "found some reductions in battering" but no effect on attitudes, and "The Broward County evaluation found no change in either behavior or attitudes."[^45] The project's Time Table lists "Duluth Model infrastructure" among Minnesota instruments in 1994.[^46] ## Majority-group plaintiffs in the record ### Rajender and Maitland In September 1973, Dr. Shyamala Rajender sued the University, "alleging that it had discriminated against women in employment, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964".[^47] The class action was settled by a consent decree filed August 13, 1980, "After 11 weeks of trial and intense negotiation".[^48] In 1983, employees filed petitions under the [[Rajender consent decree]]. These were settled by a second decree approved October 12, 1989 (*In re Rajender Salary Settlement*, Civ. No. 3-89-464). Under that decree, "Male academic employees were not eligible" for the formula salary increases.[^49] The 1989 decree distributed "three million dollars in salary increases, in three phases, to class members--all of whom were women".[^50] Ian Maitland, a male professor, filed an EEOC complaint in July 1990.[^51] In 1993 he sued under Title VII, claiming the increases "had created a discriminatory pay structure tilted against himself and other male faculty members".[^34] The case reached the Eighth Circuit three times: - **1994.** The Eighth Circuit reversed a ruling that he was estopped from bringing the claims. It found it "readily foreseeable that the decree might precipitate sex discrimination claims".[^49] - **1998.** Applying the rule that such a plan must not "unnecessarily trammel[ ] the rights of male employees", the court reversed in part, vacated in part and remanded.[^50] - **2001.** The court affirmed District Judge [[Donovan W. Frank]]'s denial of the defendants' motion based on Eleventh Amendment and legislative immunity.[^52] The Center for Individual Rights announced a settlement on June 12, 2003 ([[Maitland v. University of Minnesota]]).[^53] Twenty years later, the University co-issued the TRUTH Project report, which contains "Maitland" and "Rajender" zero times.[^9] ### The Ph.D. Project agreement The record lists a Title VI matter concerning the University's [[Carlson School]] and The Ph.D. Project. It was opened March 13, 2025 and resolved by agreement on February 19, 2026. That is the same date as the Department of Education's release announcing 31 agreements ending Ph.D. Project partnerships ([[University of Minnesota (Carlson School) — The Ph.D. Project Title VI resolution agreement]]).[^54] A [[Star Tribune]] article is headlined *The U signs agreement acknowledging discrimination against white and Asian students*; the record carries only the headline.[^55] ### The Hennepin County Attorney's Office policy and its amendment The [[Hennepin County Attorney's Office]] [[Negotiations Policy]] for adult defendants took effect April 28, 2025. It states: "While racial identity and age are not appropriate grounds for departures, proposed resolutions should consider the person charged as a whole person, including their racial identity and age."[^56] On May 5, 2025, the Justice Department announced a civil-rights investigation in release No. 25-469. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated that "It is unconstitutional and morally abhorrent to make different prosecutorial decisions based on a person's race".[^57] The record lists the investigation as closed in February 2026 after the policy was amended. According to the record, the closure does not foreclose private remedies ([[DOJ Civil Rights Division investigation of the Hennepin County Attorney's Office (race in prosecutorial decisions)]]).[^58] ### The Title VII standard in Ames In [[Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services]], 605 U.S. 303 (June 5, 2025), the Supreme Court rejected a rule requiring "members of a majority group to satisfy a heightened evidentiary standard to prevail on a Title VII claim". It held that Title VII's disparate-treatment provision "draws no distinctions between majority-group plaintiffs and minority-group plaintiffs".[^59] The complaint against Minnesota invokes the same statutory text: "Under Title VII, it is unlawful for employers to discriminate against, or limit, segregate, or classify in any way" that would adversely affect employment.[^60] ## Delivery: the instruments the reports point to ### The acknowledgment twin: HF 2397, SF 2980 and HF 5456 **HF 2397.** The bill was introduced in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] on March 2, 2023 and referred to Judiciary Finance and Civil Law. Its eight authors are Hussein, Hassan, Richardson, Noor, Hollins, Frazier, Kozlowski and Sencer-Mura. The bill would provide funding "to study and provide reparation grants for American descendants of chattel slavery who reside in state". Its log records author additions through March 4, 2024, and no hearing or vote.[^61] **SF 2980.** The Senate companion (revisor number 23-03929), by Pappas, Boldon and Maye Quade, was introduced March 20, 2023 and referred to Judiciary and Public Safety. Its log shows no further action.[^62] **HF 5456.** The bill was posted May 6, 2024. Its title describes it as "appropriating money to study reparations for American descendants of chattel slavery".[^63] The project's instrument list calls HF 2397 the $100 million vehicle and HF 5456 a $500,000 study with no Senate companion. The bill excerpts in the record do not state either amount.[^64] The beneficiary class named in these bills matches the title of Saint Paul's Resolution 21-77.[^7] ### The opposition twin: HF 5143 HF 5143 was posted May 13, 2026 (revisor number 26-08535). It is described as "Affirmative action requirements for state agencies repealed." Its page shows the following ([[HF 5143 Status in the House - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)]]):[^65] - "Companion: None"; - seven authors: Schultz, Hudson, Harder, Franson, Mekeland, Heintzeman and Gordon; - referral to State Government Finance and Policy; - no further action. The project's instrument list calls it the only §43A.191 repeal vehicle.[^66] Measured the same way, the logs of HF 2397, SF 2980 and HF 5143 record introduction, referral and author additions, and no hearing, vote or passage. For HF 5456, the record carries only the introduced text.[^61][^62][^65][^63] The federal suit was filed four months before HF 5143 and remains pending.[^19] ## The federal posture The complaint states: "To break this discrimination chain once and for all, the United States of America brings this action against the State of Minnesota under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964". It opens by quoting *Students for Fair Admissions*, 600 U.S. 181, 208 (2023), which itself quotes *Rice v. Cayetano*: "Distinctions between citizens solely because of their ancestry are by their very nature odious to a free people".[^67] The release states that "the United States argues such outdated precedents are inconsistent with both the text of Title VII and subsequent Supreme Court caselaw". The release page was updated January 20, 2026.[^17] The record lists the case as active.[^19] The release title uses the word "Regime".[^17] The project treats "regime" as a U.S.-government term of art for governments it opposes. One example is the [[Iraq Liberation Act]] of 1998, which states a policy "to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq".[^68] The finding that Minnesota is the only U.S. state so described comes from the project's catalogue in [[How Minnesota Got Here]], not from any court or agency.[^18] ## Bipartisan record - **1981.** §43A.191 enacted (1981 c 210 s 19).[^35] The Time Table records that Gov. [[Al Quie]] (R) signed it.[^69] - **1986.** Amended (1986 c 444). The record names no [[governor]] or party.[^35] - **March 1993.** The Time Table records that Gov. Arne Carlson (R) proposed expanding diversity hiring initiatives and did not challenge §43A.191.[^70] - **1995–1996.** Amended (1995 c 248; 1996 c 390). The Time Table places these years in Carlson's second term.[^35][^71] - **2001.** The Time Table records the statute in operation under Gov. Jesse Ventura. It states no party.[^72] - **2003–2007.** The Time Table records that Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) proposed no changes to §43A.191.[^73] The section was amended in 2004 (c 277) and 2007 (c 13).[^35] - **2019, 2023.** Amended (2019 1Sp1 c 10; 2023 c 62). The record names no governor or party.[^35] - **January 14, 2026.** The United States sued. The Time Table records no earlier challenge to §43A.191.[^74] - **March 25, 2026.** Executive Order 26-05 signed. The Advocates' page attributes it to Governor Walz and states no party.[^6] - **May 13, 2026.** HF 5143 introduced. The record states no author's party for this bill, or for HF 2397 or SF 2980.[^65] ## See also - [[United States v. State of Minnesota (0:26-cv-00273)]] - [[Minnesota Statute §43A.191]] - [[Maitland v. University of Minnesota]] - [[Rajender consent decree]] - [[Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services]] - [[TRUTH Project]] - [[Minnesota Truth Council]] - [[Pay equity]] - [[How Minnesota Got Here]] ## Notes [^1]: Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and University of Minnesota, *TRUTH Project Report* (April 11, 2023) — the full report. https://mn.gov/indian-affairs/assets/full-report_tcm1193-572488.pdf [^2]: Minnesota Department of Human Rights, *Investigation into the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department* (April 27, 2022) — the Department's pattern-or-practice report. https://mn.gov/mdhr/assets/Investigation%20into%20the%20City%20of%20Minneapolis%20and%20the%20Minneapolis%20Police%20Department_tcm1061-526417.pdf [^3]: Keen Independent Research, *2017 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study, City of Minneapolis Final Report* (March 2018) — preparer, client and date. https://mn.gov/admin/assets/KeenIndependentMinneapolisDisparityStudyFullReport03122018_tcm36-331971.pdf [^4]: Ramsey County Historical Society, *Land Acknowledgement Statement* (undated; retrieved 2026-10-28) — the Society's acknowledgement page; excerpts in the record are site navigation. https://rchs.com/about/land-acknowledgement-statement/ [^5]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 26-05* (March 25, 2026) — establishment, membership cap, named operations and stated purpose of the council. https://mn.gov/governor/assets/Executive%20Order%2026-05_tcm1055-735580.pdf [^6]: The Advocates for Human Rights, *Minnesota Truth Council* (undated web page; retrieved 2026-10-28) — what the project is not; March 27, 2026 press release on Governor Walz's establishment of the council. https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/MNTruthCouncil [^7]: City of Saint Paul, *City Council Reparations Legislative Record* (last edited January 13, 2023) — Resolution 21-77 title and commission report scope. https://www.stpaul.gov/department/city-council/city-council-reparations-efforts/city-council-reparations-legislative-0 [^8]: City of Minneapolis, *Truth and Reconciliation Working Group Final Recommendations* (undated) — title only; not fetched (robots), 2026-10-28. https://lims.minneapolismn.gov/Download/RCAV2/32524/Truth-and-Reconciliation-Working-Group-Final-Recommendations.pdf [^9]: Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and University of Minnesota, *TRUTH Project Report* (April 11, 2023) — phrase search of 442,055 characters, retrieved 2026-10-28: "white" 60, "men" 25, "Duluth" 24, "white man" 1; every other audited term 0. https://mn.gov/indian-affairs/assets/full-report_tcm1193-572488.pdf [^10]: Minnesota Department of Human Rights, *Investigation into the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department* (April 27, 2022) — phrase search of 202,061 characters, retrieved 2026-10-28: "white" 125, "men" 11, "white man" 2; every other audited term 0. https://mn.gov/mdhr/assets/Investigation%20into%20the%20City%20of%20Minneapolis%20and%20the%20Minneapolis%20Police%20Department_tcm1061-526417.pdf [^11]: Keen Independent Research, *2017 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study, City of Minneapolis Final Report* (March 2018) — phrase search of 1,879,799 characters, retrieved 2026-10-28: "white" 785, "male" 498, "white male" 244, "equal protection" 86, "men" 66, "affirmative action" 59, "white males" 14, "white men" 12, "Caucasian" 5, "Title VII" 2, "Duluth" 2, "white man" 1; "majority group", "Maitland", "Rajender", "43A.191", "reverse discrimination", "non-underrepresented", "pay equity" 0. https://mn.gov/admin/assets/KeenIndependentMinneapolisDisparityStudyFullReport03122018_tcm36-331971.pdf [^12]: Ramsey County Historical Society, *Land Acknowledgement Statement* (undated) — phrase search of 7,502 characters, retrieved 2026-10-28: "men" 2; every other audited term 0. https://rchs.com/about/land-acknowledgement-statement/ [^13]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 26-05* (March 25, 2026) — phrase search of 6,931 characters, retrieved 2026-10-28: every audited term 0. https://mn.gov/governor/assets/Executive%20Order%2026-05_tcm1055-735580.pdf [^14]: The Advocates for Human Rights, *Minnesota Truth Council* (undated web page) — phrase search of 6,780 characters, retrieved 2026-10-28: every audited term 0. https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/MNTruthCouncil [^15]: City of Saint Paul, *City Council Reparations Legislative Record* (last edited January 13, 2023) — phrase search of 26,419 characters, retrieved 2026-10-28: "white" 2; every other audited term 0. https://www.stpaul.gov/department/city-council/city-council-reparations-efforts/city-council-reparations-legislative-0 [^16]: U.S. District Court, D. Minn., *Complaint, United States v. State of Minnesota*, No. 0:26-cv-00273 (January 14, 2026) — Title VII action against the State; alleges an unlawful affirmative-action plan. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^17]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, *United States Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota's 'Affirmative Action' Regime*, release No. 26-21 (January 14, 2026; updated January 20, 2026) — release title; Attorney General's certification; three-judge court and direct appeal; the United States' argument on precedent. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-department-justice-files-lawsuit-against-minnesotas-affirmative-action-regime [^18]: Minnesota wiki project, *How Minnesota Got Here*, note 40, as summarized in pinned claim PIN-03 (2026) — the project's catalogue finding that Minnesota is the only U.S. state described as a "regime" by the U.S. government; the claim's cited source. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-105publ338/pdf/PLAW-105publ338.pdf [^19]: Minnesota wiki project, *case row FA-1, United States v. State of Minnesota* (record of 2026-10-28) — status: active; certified; three-judge court, direct appeal to the Supreme Court. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^20]: Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and University of Minnesota, *TRUTH Project Report* (April 11, 2023) — finding on the founding Board of Regents. https://mn.gov/indian-affairs/assets/full-report_tcm1193-572488.pdf [^21]: Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and University of Minnesota, *TRUTH Project Report* (April 11, 2023) — Land Back and reparations recommendations. https://mn.gov/indian-affairs/assets/full-report_tcm1193-572488.pdf [^22]: Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and University of Minnesota, *TRUTH Project Report* (April 11, 2023) — context of a use of "white". https://mn.gov/indian-affairs/assets/full-report_tcm1193-572488.pdf [^23]: Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, *TRUTH Project Executive Summary* (2023) — companion executive summary. https://mn.gov/indian-affairs/assets/executive-summary_tcm1193-572350.pdf [^24]: University of Minnesota, *TRUTH press release* (2023) — companion press release hosted by the Council. https://mn.gov/indian-affairs/assets/UMN%20Truth%20press-release_tcm1193-572351.pdf [^25]: Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, *TRUTH Project* (web page) — project page. https://mn.gov/indian-affairs/truth-project/ [^26]: Minnesota Department of Human Rights, *Investigation into the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department* (April 27, 2022) — scope under Chapter 363A and opening of the investigation. https://mn.gov/mdhr/assets/Investigation%20into%20the%20City%20of%20Minneapolis%20and%20the%20Minneapolis%20Police%20Department_tcm1061-526417.pdf [^27]: Minnesota Department of Human Rights, *Investigation into the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department* (April 27, 2022) — probable-cause finding. https://mn.gov/mdhr/assets/Investigation%20into%20the%20City%20of%20Minneapolis%20and%20the%20Minneapolis%20Police%20Department_tcm1061-526417.pdf [^28]: State of Minnesota, *Disparity Study* (web page) — State page hosting the joint disparity study. https://mn.gov/admin/disparity-study/ [^29]: Keen Independent Research, *MnDOT Disparity Study draft executive summary* (January 29, 2018, per file name) — companion draft summary in the joint study; not fetched. https://mn.gov/admin/assets/Keen%20Independent%20MnDOT%20Disparity%20Study%20draft%20executive%20summary%2001292018_tcm36-325272.pdf [^30]: Keen Independent Research, *MMCD Disparity Study Executive Summary* (March 12, 2018, per file name) — companion summary in the joint study; not fetched. https://mn.gov/admin/assets/KeenIndependentMMCDDisparityStudyExecutiveSummary03122018_tcm36-331972.pdf [^31]: Keen Independent Research, *2017 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study, City of Minneapolis Final Report* (March 2018) — MBE/WBE goals and legal framework, chapter 2. https://mn.gov/admin/assets/KeenIndependentMinneapolisDisparityStudyFullReport03122018_tcm36-331971.pdf [^32]: Keen Independent Research, *2017 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study, City of Minneapolis Final Report* (March 2018) — outcome comparison with white male-owned companies (phrase-audit context passage). https://mn.gov/admin/assets/KeenIndependentMinneapolisDisparityStudyFullReport03122018_tcm36-331971.pdf [^33]: Office of the Governor, *Executive Order 26-05* (March 25, 2026) — report deadlines, vendor agreement, limits on the council's role and scope exclusion. https://mn.gov/governor/assets/Executive%20Order%2026-05_tcm1055-735580.pdf [^34]: U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, *Maitland v. University of Minnesota*, 260 F.3d 959 (2001) — 1980 and 1989 decrees; Maitland's 1993 Title VII suit. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/260/959/494931/ [^35]: Office of the Revisor of Statutes, *Minn. Stat. §43A.191, history line* (as transcribed in project claim MC-2) — session laws 1981 c 210 through 2023 c 62. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/43A.191 [^36]: Office of the Revisor of Statutes, *Minn. Stat. §43A.191, Affirmative action plans* (retrieved 2026-10-28) — agency duties and paragraph (h) hiring data. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/43A.191 [^37]: U.S. District Court, D. Minn., *Complaint, United States v. State of Minnesota*, No. 0:26-cv-00273 (January 14, 2026), ¶¶12, 26, 33 — allegations on §43A.19, Minn. R. 3905.0600 and the Pre-Hire Justification under §43A.191 subd. 3(c). https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^38]: Minnesota wiki project, *pinned claim PIN-02 and claim rows 14 and 34* (2026) — complaint cites §43A.191 eight times; Exhibit B, DHS Policy 4100.250, signed June 23, 2025 by Andrew Stephen Petroski. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^39]: Minnesota wiki project, *Time Table rows TL-0390 and TL-0435* (1981, 1983) — count five amendments of §43A.191, the first in 1983; row source. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/43A.191 [^40]: Office of the Revisor of Statutes, *Minn. Stat. §3.303, Office on the Economic Status of Women* (retrieved 2026-10-28) — subd. 7 duties. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/3.303 [^41]: Minnesota wiki project, *claim row 7, Theory 1* (2026) — identifies the Office as drafter of §43A.191; cites the §3.303 page. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/3.303 [^42]: Equal Protection Project, *OCR Complaint: University of Minnesota BIPOC Design Justice Initiative* (November 14, 2024) — Title VI and equal protection allegations. https://equalprotect.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/OCR-Complaint-University-of-Minnesota-BIPOC-Design-Justice-Initiative-1.pdf [^43]: U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, *Letter Opening Investigation, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities* (March 13, 2025) — allegation investigated; docket OCR 05-25-2077 per record case row FA-8. https://equalprotect.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/OCR-Letter-March-13-2025-U.-Minnesota-Twin-Cities-Opening-Investigation.pdf [^44]: Equal Protection Project, *OCR Complaint: Minnesota State University Moorhead* (June 11, 2024) — scholarship eligibility; docket OCR 05-24-2452, open, per record case row FA-8b. https://equalprotect.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OCR-Complaint-Minnesota-State-University-Moorhead.pdf [^45]: National Institute of Justice, *Broward County batterer-intervention experiment*, NCJ 195079 (June 2003) — Duluth model's stated basis; Brooklyn and Broward County results. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/195079.pdf [^46]: Minnesota wiki project, *Time Table row TL-0623* (November 1994) — lists "Duluth Model infrastructure" with §43A.191; row source. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/43A.191 [^47]: U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, *Rajender v. University of Minnesota*, 730 F.2d 1110 (1984) — September 1973 filing under Title VII. https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/8930496/rajender-v-university-of-minnesota/ [^48]: U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, *Rajender v. University of Minnesota*, 730 F.2d 1110 (1984) — settlement and consent decree filed August 13, 1980. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/730/1110/68554/ [^49]: U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, *Maitland v. University of Minnesota*, 43 F.3d 357 (1994) — 1983 petitions; 1989 decree; male ineligibility; estoppel reversal. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/43/357/552500/ [^50]: U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, *Maitland v. University of Minnesota*, 155 F.3d 1013 (1998) — terms of the 1989 decree; *Johnson*/*Weber* standard; disposition. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/155/1013/523564/ [^51]: U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, *Maitland v. University of Minnesota*, 43 F.3d 357 (1994) — EEOC complaint, July 1990. https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/7031093/maitland-v-university-of-minnesota/ [^52]: U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, *Maitland v. University of Minnesota*, 260 F.3d 959 (2001) — affirmance on immunity; District Judge Donovan W. Frank. https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/3027355/maitland-v-university-of-minnesota/ [^53]: Center for Individual Rights, *Prof. Maitland settles his case against U. Minnesota* (June 12, 2003) — settlement announcement. https://cir-usa.org/2003/06/prof-maitland-settles-his-case-against-u-minnesota/ [^54]: U.S. Department of Education, *Office for Civil Rights Secures 31 Agreements with Colleges and Universities to End Partnerships with The Ph.D. Project* (February 19, 2026) — title only, not fetched; Carlson School matter opened March 13, 2025, resolved February 19, 2026, per record case row FA-8c. https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-educations-office-civil-rights-secures-31-agreements-colleges-and-universities-end-partnerships-phd-project [^55]: Star Tribune, *The U signs agreement acknowledging discrimination against white and Asian students* (undated) — headline only; not fetched. https://www.startribune.com/the-u-signs-agreement-acknowledging-discrimination-against-white-and-asian-students-cuts-ties-with-recruiting-nonprofit/601564669 [^56]: Hennepin County Attorney's Office, *Negotiations Policy for Cases Involving Adult Defendants* (effective April 28, 2025) — policy text. https://kstp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Negotiation-Policy-for-Cases-Involving-Adult-Defendants.pdf [^57]: U.S. Department of Justice, *U.S. Department of Justice Announces Civil Rights Investigation into the Consideration of Race in Prosecutorial Decision making by Minnesota's Hennepin County*, release No. 25-469 (May 5, 2025) — investigation and officials' statements. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-department-justice-announces-civil-rights-investigation-consideration-race-prosecutorial [^58]: Minnesota wiki project, *case row FA-9* (record of 2026-10-28) — investigation closed February 2026 after the policy was amended; closure does not foreclose private remedies. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-department-justice-announces-civil-rights-investigation-consideration-race-prosecutorial [^59]: Supreme Court of the United States, *Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services*, 605 U.S. 303, slip opinion (June 5, 2025) — holding on the "background circumstances" rule and majority-group plaintiffs. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-1039_c0n2.pdf [^60]: U.S. District Court, D. Minn., *Complaint, United States v. State of Minnesota*, No. 0:26-cv-00273 (January 14, 2026), ¶2 — Title VII text relied on. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^61]: Minnesota Legislature, *HF 2397, 93rd Legislature, bill page and action log* (introduced March 2, 2023) — description, authors, actions. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/93/2023/0/HF/2397/ [^62]: Minnesota Legislature, *SF 2980, 93rd Legislature, bill page and action log* (introduced March 20, 2023) — companion, revisor number, authors, actions. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/93/2023/0/SF/2980/ [^63]: Minnesota Legislature, *HF 5456, 93rd Legislature, introduction* (posted May 6, 2024) — title. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/93/2024/0/HF/5456/versions/0 [^64]: Minnesota wiki project, *instrument list, labels for HF 2397 and HF 5456* (2026) — $100 million vehicle; $500,000 study with no Senate companion. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/93/2024/0/HF/5456/versions/0 [^65]: Minnesota Legislature, *HF 5143, 94th Legislature, bill page and action log* (posted May 13, 2026) — description, companion, authors, actions. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/94/2026/0/HF/5143/ [^66]: Minnesota wiki project, *instrument list, label for HF 5143* (2026) — the only §43A.191 repeal vehicle. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/94/2026/0/HF/5143/ [^67]: U.S. District Court, D. Minn., *Complaint, United States v. State of Minnesota*, No. 0:26-cv-00273 (January 14, 2026), introduction and ¶1 — framing of the action; quotation of *Students for Fair Admissions*. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^68]: U.S. Congress, *Iraq Liberation Act of 1998*, Pub. L. 105-338 (1998) — sec. 3 usage of "regime"; the project's term-of-art reading per pinned claim PIN-03. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-105publ338/pdf/PLAW-105publ338.pdf [^69]: Minnesota wiki project, *Time Table row TL-0386* (1981) — records Gov. Al Quie (R) signing §43A.191; row source. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/43A.191 [^70]: Minnesota wiki project, *Time Table row TL-0593* (March 1993) — Gov. Arne Carlson (R) proposes expanding diversity hiring initiatives; does not challenge §43A.191; row source. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/43A.191 [^71]: Minnesota wiki project, *Time Table row TL-0650* (1995) — Carlson (R) in second term; row source. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/43A.191 [^72]: Minnesota wiki project, *Time Table row TL-0708* (2001) — §43A.191 operating under Gov. Jesse Ventura; row source. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/43A.191 [^73]: Minnesota wiki project, *Time Table rows TL-0728 and TL-0746* (2003, 2005) — Pawlenty proposes no changes to §43A.191; Pawlenty (R) as governor; row source. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/43A.191 [^74]: Minnesota wiki project, *Time Table row TL-0391* (1981) — §43A.191 not challenged until the United States sued on January 14, 2026; row source. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl