Roughly six federal prosecutors in Minnesota have stepped down amidst unrest regarding the federal inquiry into the fatal shooting of a woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis. Additionally, a number of supervisors in the criminal division of the Justice Department’s civil rights unit have also tendered their resignations.
The resignations come after escalating tensions following the Trump administration’s decision to exclude the state from the investigation into the shooting of Renee Good, who was killed by an immigration agent. Lawyers within the civil rights division, which typically handles high-profile officer shootings, were informed that the division would not be part of the investigation at this point.
A senior official at the Justice Department stated on Tuesday that there is currently no basis to launch a criminal civil rights investigation into Good’s death. This move marks a significant departure from previous administrations, which swiftly looked into officer-involved shootings for potential civil rights violations.
Among those resigning in Minnesota is First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, who was overseeing a broad investigation and prosecution of fraudulent activities in the state. At least four other prosecutors from the Minnesota U.S. attorney’s office have also resigned amid internal tensions.
The departures are part of a broader trend of career Justice Department attorneys leaving due to concerns about political pressures or changing priorities under the Trump administration. Minnesota lawmakers, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Gov. Tim Walz, have expressed worries about potential political influence on Justice Department officials. The resignations within the civil rights division were announced to staff recently, with the Justice Department clarifying that the prosecutors had sought early retirement before the events in Minnesota.
The civil rights division, which was established nearly 70 years ago, is known for investigating officer-involved shootings, although prosecuting such cases is challenging. Previous administrations have typically acted swiftly to launch investigations into civilian shootings by law enforcement to address potential civil rights violations and calm community concerns.