Federal Prosecutors Resign Amid Concerns Over Minneapolis ICE Shooting Probe
Several federal prosecutors in Minnesota have resigned amid growing unease over how the Justice Department is handling the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by during a traffic stop in Minneapolis involving an ICE agent.
At least three attorneys from the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota stepped down after raising internal concerns about the direction of the probe, according to a source familiar with the resignations. Among them were Joseph Thompson and Melinda Williams, both longtime federal prosecutors. A third attorney also resigned but has not been publicly identified.
The resignations come as scrutiny intensifies over whether the federal response to the Minneapolis ICE shooting is being influenced by political pressure rather than evidence.
Internal Pressure and Growing Friction
According to law enforcement officials with knowledge of the situation, the prosecutors were troubled by pressure from Justice Department leadership in both Minneapolis and Washington. That pressure allegedly centered on examining possible links between Good, her widow, and activist organizations — a move the prosecutors viewed as inappropriate and irrelevant to the shooting itself.
They were also alarmed by a decision to exclude state and local authorities from participating in the federal investigation, a departure from standard practice in officer-involved shootings.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz publicly defended Thompson, calling him a “principled public servant” with more than a decade of law enforcement experience.
Walz called the departures a major blow to the state. “It’s another sign that nonpartisan career professionals are being pushed out of the Department of Justice.”
What Happened the Day of the Shooting
Renee Nicole Good, 37, was sitting in the driver’s seat of her SUV in a residential Minneapolis neighborhood when the shooting occurred last week.
Video footage reviewed by Republic News US shows officers ordering Good to exit her vehicle. Moments later, she begins to drive away. Gunshots ring out, and her SUV crashes into a parked car.
Another video, reportedly recorded by the ICE officer involved, captures Good speaking with officers shortly before the shooting. As she turns the steering wheel away from the officer and starts to leave, shots are fired. The footage briefly shakes, showing the sky and the officer’s masked face, before stabilizing again.
A male voice can be heard using a slur moments before the vehicle crashes.
Conflicting Accounts From Federal and Local Officials
The Department of Homeland Security has maintained that Good “weaponized” her vehicle and that the officer acted in self-defense.
Local and state officials strongly dispute that account, saying Good was attempting to flee, not attack. Witnesses and video evidence have fueled public skepticism over the federal narrative.
Despite the FBI leading an investigation, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated Tuesday that there is “currently no basis” for a criminal investigation by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division into the officer’s actions.
ICE’s Office of Public Responsibility is conducting an internal review, which officials say is standard after officer-involved shootings.
Fallout Inside the Justice Department
The resignations in Minnesota are part of a broader shake-up within the Justice Department. In Washington, at least six senior leaders in the Civil Rights Division’s criminal section have opted for early retirement, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The division, tasked with investigating possible law enforcement abuses, has lost hundreds of attorneys since President Donald Trump returned to office.
Former Civil Rights Division head Kristen Clarke warned the departures could weaken federal oversight nationwide.
She said losing so much experience inside the Civil Rights Division harms the public far beyond Washington. “This is precisely the moment when impartiality matters most.”
Broader Political Context
Joseph Thompson previously led a major fraud investigation involving alleged misuse of public funds, an inquiry later cited by the Trump administration when deploying ICE agents to Minnesota.
However, state officials said recent allegations — including claims involving Somali-run child care centers — were unsupported by evidence.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara questioned the motives behind the federal actions.
He said that removing the person who led those prosecutions raises serious doubts about whether fraud enforcement is truly the goal.
FAQs
1. Why did federal prosecutors resign over the Minneapolis ICE shooting?
They raised concerns about political pressure, investigative direction, and the exclusion of state authorities from the probe.
2. Is the ICE officer facing criminal charges?
No. The Justice Department says there is currently no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation.
3. Who is investigating the shooting now?
The FBI is leading the investigation, while ICE is conducting an internal review.
4. What do local officials say about Renee Nicole Good’s actions?
State and local leaders say Good was attempting to flee, not harm officers.
5. Why is this case drawing national attention?
The resignations, conflicting accounts, and broader concerns about federal oversight have raised questions about transparency and accountability.
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