Roughly six federal prosecutors in Minnesota have stepped down amidst upheaval surrounding the federal inquiry into the shooting of a woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis. Likewise, there have been resignations among supervisors in the criminal division of the Justice Department’s civil rights section.
The resignations come following escalating tensions resulting from the Trump administration’s decision to exclude the state from the investigation into the killing of Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent. Attorneys in the civil rights division, typically tasked with probing high-profile officer-involved shootings, were informed that the division would not be participating in the investigation at this point.
A senior Justice Department official stated on Tuesday that there is presently no justification for initiating a criminal civil rights investigation into Good’s death. This move represents a significant departure from previous administrations, which promptly launched inquiries into officer-involved shootings for potential civil rights violations.
Among those departing in Minnesota is First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, who was actively leading investigations and prosecutions related to fraudulent activities in the state. At least four other prosecutors from the Minnesota U.S. attorney’s office have also tendered their resignations during a period of internal tension.
The recent resignations are part of a broader trend of career Justice Department attorneys leaving their positions due to concerns over political influences or changing priorities under the current administration. Minnesota Democratic lawmakers have criticized the departures, emphasizing the importance of non-political prosecutions for public safety.
Governor Tim Walz expressed apprehension about potential political pressures affecting career officials within the Justice Department. The resignations of lawyers in the civil rights division’s criminal segment, including the chief, were announced to the staff on Monday. The Justice Department clarified that these prosecutors had requested early retirement well before the recent events in Minnesota.
The civil rights division, established nearly seven decades ago, has a storied history of investigating officer-involved shootings, albeit with stringent criteria for pursuing criminal prosecutions. Past administrations have swiftly initiated and publicly disclosed such investigations to address community concerns surrounding law enforcement actions.