WASHINGTON (AP) — A turmoil has arisen within the Minnesota federal prosecutors' office as about half a dozen attorneys, including the First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, resigned amidst growing tensions over the investigation into the shooting of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. The resignations followed the Trump administration's controversial decision to exclude the state from the inquiry into the fatal incident involving Good, who was shot in the head last week.
Lawyers in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, which typically handles high-profile fatal officer shootings, were informed that they would not participate in the investigation at this stage. This exclusion sparked further discontent among attorneys involved in such civil rights inquiries.
In total, at least five prosecutors from the Minnesota U.S. attorney's office have left, raising alarm over political influences shaping judicial actions. These departures represent a broader trend of resignations from the Justice Department, where hundreds of attorneys have exited amid concerns over political oversight and shifting priorities under the Trump administration.
Critics of the recent resignations, including Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, described the situation as detrimental to public safety, contending that prosecutions should remain unaffected by political agendas. Governor Tim Walz echoed these sentiments, emphasizing worries over career officials facing undue political pressure.
In contrast, the Justice Department asserted that the resignations were voluntary and linked to an early retirement program, dismissing any accusations suggesting they were driven by political tensions. This movement within the department signifies a notable shift since the established Civil Rights Division's history of actively investigating law enforcement-related civilian fatalities, a tactic that has diminished in the current political climate.
Previous investigations, notably the civil rights inquiry into George Floyd's death in 2020 under the previous administration, emphasize the need for careful handling of such sensitive investigations, particularly when community trust is at stake.
Lawyers in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, which typically handles high-profile fatal officer shootings, were informed that they would not participate in the investigation at this stage. This exclusion sparked further discontent among attorneys involved in such civil rights inquiries.
In total, at least five prosecutors from the Minnesota U.S. attorney's office have left, raising alarm over political influences shaping judicial actions. These departures represent a broader trend of resignations from the Justice Department, where hundreds of attorneys have exited amid concerns over political oversight and shifting priorities under the Trump administration.
Critics of the recent resignations, including Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, described the situation as detrimental to public safety, contending that prosecutions should remain unaffected by political agendas. Governor Tim Walz echoed these sentiments, emphasizing worries over career officials facing undue political pressure.
In contrast, the Justice Department asserted that the resignations were voluntary and linked to an early retirement program, dismissing any accusations suggesting they were driven by political tensions. This movement within the department signifies a notable shift since the established Civil Rights Division's history of actively investigating law enforcement-related civilian fatalities, a tactic that has diminished in the current political climate.
Previous investigations, notably the civil rights inquiry into George Floyd's death in 2020 under the previous administration, emphasize the need for careful handling of such sensitive investigations, particularly when community trust is at stake.
