Departures Continue at U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota
A new wave of departures is occurring at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota, fueled by mounting frustration over immigration enforcement and the Justice Department’s handling of shootings involving federal agents. The departures add to a series of resignations that began last month, reportedly bringing the total number of lawyers who have left or announced plans to leave the office to eight.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the recent departures are linked to disagreements over the Justice Department’s response to the shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. At least one supervisory agent in the FBI’s Minneapolis office also resigned last month.
The office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Disagreements Over Investigations
The resignations reflect tensions that have emerged in Minnesota following violent confrontations during increased immigration enforcement. Minnesota officials expressed concern after federal officials blocked state investigators from accessing evidence in the Good shooting, asserting that Minnesota lacked jurisdiction to investigate the killing. The Justice Department initially declined to open a civil rights investigation into Good’s death.
The situation evolved after initial statements from Trump administration officials indicated that the Department of Homeland Security would lead the investigation into the subsequent killing of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol officers. However, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed last Friday, , that the Justice Department was opening a civil rights investigation to determine if the shooting of the intensive care nurse constituted a crime.
“We’re looking at everything that would shed light on what happened that day and in the days and weeks leading up to what happened,” Blanche said.
Previous Resignations
The current departures follow a previous wave of resignations last month, where a half-dozen attorneys left the office due to similar disagreements regarding the Justice Department’s response to the shooting of Renee Good. The initial departures signaled growing discontent within the office regarding the handling of these sensitive cases.
The ongoing series of resignations highlights the challenges facing the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota as it navigates complex issues related to immigration enforcement and the investigation of incidents involving federal agents. The situation remains fluid and further departures are reportedly possible.
