Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Employee investigated for off-the-clock Facebook post

Shortly after a gunman opened fire while former President Trump spoke at a rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, Department of Natural Resources employee Tyler Janke posted, “Too bad they weren’t a better shot,” to his personal Facebook page while off duty. When the post came to the attention of DNR officials, they issued a statement condemning Janke’s comment and committing to “thoroughly examining the matter.” 

On August 2, FIRE wrote the department explaining that the First Amendment affords government employees robust rights to comment as private citizens on matters of public concern and calling on the department to cease its investigation into Janke’s constitutionally protected speech.