AG Knudsen Orders Gallatin County Attorney to Drop Lawsuit Against Him – Demands Immediate Compliance on ICE
Montana Attorney General invokes supervisory authority and directs Audrey Cromwell to dismiss her lawsuit and terminate outside counsel
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has taken decisive action in the ongoing standoff with Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell.
In a letter sent Monday, May 4, 2026, Knudsen invoked his statutory supervisory authority and ordered Cromwell to immediately dismiss the lawsuit she filed against him on May 1. He also directed her office to terminate its representation agreement with the Graybill Law Firm.
This escalation comes after months of Cromwell refusing to direct her office to share Confidential Criminal Justice Information (CCJI) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for civil immigration enforcement purposes.
Knudsen’s letter makes clear that he is exercising supervisory control under Montana law because Cromwell has failed to follow the law and issue a memorandum clarifying that Gallatin County may share CCJI with ICE.
Gallatin County Republicans continue to stand with Attorney General Austin Knudsen and full cooperation between state and federal law enforcement. Public safety should not be delayed by lawsuits, legal technicalities, or delay tactics.
When local officials refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, they put the safety of every resident in Gallatin County at risk. Montana is not a sanctuary jurisdiction, and our elected officials should not be acting like one.
The Gallatin County Republican Central Committee will continue to monitor this situation closely. We urge every conservative in the Gallatin Valley to stay informed and make your voice heard — especially ahead of the June 2 Republican primary.
We need elected officials at every level who prioritize public safety and the rule of law over legal games and privacy excuses that shield criminal activity.
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