At Least Six Prosecutors Step Down Over Handling of Renee Good Case

At least six Department of Justice prosecutors in Minnesota have resigned amid disputes over the federal investigation into the killing of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.

The Details: Several news outlets reported the prosecutors cited concerns about pressure to investigate Good's widow and dissatisfaction with the scope of the federal probe. Among those who resigned was Joseph H. Thompson, a US attorney for Minnesota who had overseen the recent major welfare-fraud investigation. Federal officials have said the ICE officer acted in self-defense, while state and local officials have disputed that assessment. On Tuesday, The Justice Department stated there is currently no basis for a criminal civil-rights investigation into Good's death and has declined to share investigative materials with state authorities.

For Context: According to MS Now (Left bias), the prosecutors' resignations come a day after leaders in the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, which investigates police shootings, among other matters, left their jobs to protest the division's non-involvement in Good's death. Reuters (Center) noted four of the DOJ Civil Rights Division lawyers were also "offered early retirement by the Trump administration and had become disillusioned with the direction of the division, whose priorities had been reshaped to align with [President] Trump." The fatal shooting by ICE Agent Jonathan Ross on Jan. 7 has intensified scrutiny of federal immigration operations and the coordination between federal and state authorities in use-of-force investigations.

How the Media Covered It: The Associated Press (Left) highlighted concerns around the federal government's review of Good's death, including officials blocking state investigators from accessing evidence. It wrote the prosecutors are the latest in an "exodus of career Justice Department attorneys who've resigned or been forced out over concerns over political pressure or shifting priorities under the Trump administration." Fox News (Right) emphasized Thompson's departure amid the recent investigation into widespread fraud in Minnesota-administered assistance programs. It wrote Thompson "did not disclose the reason for his departure or what he plans to do next," but cited other news sources who said it was due to Good's investigation. The Wall Street Journal (Center) contextualized the departures within other recent criticism of US attorneys by Trump. It also shared a poll showing 53% of voters think the shooting of Good wasn't justified, while 35% think it was.

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