FARMINGTON, MN—Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, Chair of the House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Committee, issued the following statement regarding today's decision by a Clearwater County judge to dismiss charges against three protesters who attempted to shut off pipelines in Northwest Minnesota by turning their emergency shut-off valves in 2016. The three protesters had been charged with felonies, and a jury had already been seated for the case.
"Today's decision is irresponsible, and sends the message that protesters are free to engage in reckless, illegal, and dangerous behavior that puts Minnesotans' safety at risk. This is part of the reason the legislature sought to enhance protection of critical infrastructure like pipelines—we need to send a strong message that this kind of illegal activity is unacceptable, and will not be tolerated. Protesters have already shut down freeways, closed airports and stopped trains. Now they are going after our energy infrastructure. This is a very dangerous action that needs to be corrected in the next legislative session."
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