Top Headlines

Feeds

DOJ Braces for Further Minnesota Prosecutor Resignations as Military Lawyers Deployed

Updated (7 articles)

Wave of Prosecutor Departures Reaches Eight Lawyers Eight attorneys have either quit or announced plans to quit the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota, with a half‑dozen departures recorded in the previous month and a total of eight exits confirmed by an anonymous source familiar with personnel moves[1]. The resignations are clustered in February 2026, following a prior exodus triggered by the department’s handling of the Renee Good shooting case[2]. Staff turnover threatens the office’s capacity to pursue immigration‑related prosecutions and protest‑related cases[2].

Immigration Enforcement Dispute Fuels Staff Unease Prosecutors cite frustration with the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement and the Justice Department’s refusal to open a civil‑rights probe into Good’s death as primary motivators for leaving[1]. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen recently urged his team to align with the administration’s immigration agenda, but many attorneys view the policies as potentially unlawful, prompting threats of resignation[2]. State officials also reported that federal officials blocked Minnesota investigators from accessing evidence in the Good shooting, asserting lack of jurisdiction[1].

DOJ Reinforces Minnesota Office With External Legal Resources In response, the Justice Department has begun moving attorneys from other regional offices to Minnesota and the Department of Defense is dispatching dozens of military lawyers to assist with immigration‑related prosecutions[2]. Attorney General Pam Bondi made two trips to the state within a week to boost morale among the remaining staff[2]. A federal district court chief judge accused Homeland Security of repeatedly violating court orders in immigration custody cases, adding judicial pressure to the already strained environment[2].

Civil‑Rights Probe Initiated Into Alex Pretti Killing The Justice Department announced a civil‑rights investigation into the shooting of intensive‑care nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol officers, expanding its review beyond the Good case[1]. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the department is examining all evidence surrounding the Pretti incident[1]. CNN’s coverage does not mention this probe, indicating a focus on staffing issues rather than new investigations[2].

Sources

Timeline

Dec 2025 – An ICE officer shoots and kills Renee Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, in Minneapolis, igniting days of protests and prompting the federal government to deploy additional Customs and Border Protection agents to the city [3].

Dec 2025 (early) – The Department of Homeland Security launches “Operation Metro Surge,” deploying over 2,000 agents in Minnesota and making more than 2,000 arrests, which state and city officials later challenge as a federal invasion [7].

Jan 13, 2026 – Six senior federal prosecutors, including First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, resign from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office after White House pressure to narrow the Renee Good shooting probe to her actions and associates [2][4][5]; simultaneously, hundreds of new CBP agents arrive in Minneapolis, and the Pentagon prepares to send dozens of military judge‑advocates to assist with immigration‑related prosecutions [2][4].

Jan 13, 2026 – Minnesota and the Twin Cities file a lawsuit against DHS seeking to halt the immigration crackdown, arguing the surge violates constitutional protections and local sovereignty [3][4][7].

Jan 14, 2026 – A federal district court hearing convenes to consider the state‑city lawsuit; DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defends the surge as constitutionally sound, while the court also reviews a request to limit the use of irritant agents on protesters [3].

Jan 14, 2026 – At least six senior career prosecutors resign amid the same White House pressure, underscoring the strain on the office’s independence [3]; later that day, DHS announces the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals, prompting swift condemnation from Minnesota leaders [3].

Jan 29, 2026 – The Justice Department warns that additional Minnesota prosecutors may quit as U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen urges staff to back the administration’s immigration agenda, despite widespread unease [1]; Washington redeploys Midwestern attorneys, the Pentagon dispatches military lawyers to Minneapolis, and a federal chief judge accuses DHS of repeatedly violating court orders in immigration‑custody cases [1].

Feb 3, 2026 – A new wave of departures hits the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office, bringing the total to eight lawyers who have left or plan to leave, while the DOJ opens a civil‑rights investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti; Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche says, “We’re looking at everything that would shed light on what happened that day,” signaling a broader review of federal enforcement incidents [6].

Social media (5 posts)

All related articles (7 articles)

External resources (15 links)