Several federal prosecutors in Minnesota have stepped down amidst controversy surrounding the federal inquiry into the death of a woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis. Additionally, numerous supervisors within the criminal section of the Justice Department’s civil rights division have also tendered their resignations. The resignations come in response to escalating tensions following the Trump administration’s decision to exclude the state from the investigation into the shooting of Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an immigration agent.
Lawyers in the civil rights division, typically responsible for investigating high-profile officer-involved shootings, were informed that the section would not be participating in the probe at this juncture. The Justice Department stated that there is currently no basis for launching a criminal civil rights investigation into Good’s killing. This decision represents a significant departure from previous administrations, which promptly investigated civilian shootings by law enforcement for potential civil rights violations.
Among those departing in Minnesota is First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, who was leading a substantial investigation and prosecution of fraud schemes in the state. At least four other prosecutors from the Minnesota U.S. attorney’s office have also resigned amid internal tensions. The resignations are part of a broader trend of career Justice Department attorneys leaving due to concerns about political pressures or shifting priorities under the current administration.
Minnesota Democratic lawmakers have criticized the departures, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar emphasizing that prosecutions should not be influenced by politics. Governor Tim Walz expressed concerns about potential political influence on career Justice Department officials. The resignations within the civil rights division’s criminal section, including its chief, were communicated to staff on Monday. The Justice Department clarified that these prosecutors had requested early retirement before the events in Minnesota and refuted any suggestions to the contrary.
The civil rights division, established nearly 70 years ago, has a history of investigating officer-involved shootings, even though criminal prosecutions in such cases require meeting stringent criteria. Previous administrations have swiftly initiated and publicized such investigations to assert federal authority over potential civil rights violations and ease community tensions following law enforcement-involved shootings.