A major shakeup struck the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota on Tuesday as six federal prosecutors abruptly resigned over what they described as improper interference from senior Justice Department officials in Washington regarding the investigation of a recent fatal immigration enforcement shooting.
The controversy centers on the killing of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole (Macklin) Good, who was fatally shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross on January 7. Instead of launching a criminal probe into the agent’s actions, senior department officials reportedly urged the Minnesota office to pursue charges against Good’s widow – a directive that immediately drew objections from several high-ranking prosecutors inside the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Lead Prosecutor Resigns in Protest
Among those stepping down was Joseph H. Thompson, 47, a career federal prosecutor who previously served as acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota and most recently held the post of First Assistant U.S. Attorney. Thompson had been overseeing a broad array of high-impact fraud investigations involving misuse of Minnesota public assistance programs – cases that the Trump administration often highlighted in speeches around immigration enforcement.
Thompson’s departure was joined by prosecutors Melinda Williams, Harry Jacobs, Thomas Calhoun-Lopez, and two additional colleagues whose names were confirmed by internal sources. Williams, who led the office’s criminal division, had recently secured several notable convictions ranging from sex trafficking to fentanyl-related deaths.
According to multiple individuals familiar with the resignations, the prosecutors also objected to the Justice Department’s decision to bar the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) from participating in the review of the shooting, as well as the department’s refusal to conduct any criminal civil rights inquiry into Agent Ross.
In a public statement, Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said officials currently saw “no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation.”
Local Leaders Warn of Fallout
Minnesota officials reacted swiftly to the wave of resignations, warning that the sudden loss of senior career prosecutors could hamper several large-scale fraud cases and weaken state-federal cooperation.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described Thompson’s exit as a “serious setback” to ongoing efforts to dismantle sophisticated financial networks accused of stealing millions from state welfare programs. “Anyone pretending this is just about prosecuting fraud is missing the larger issue,” O’Hara said, hinting that political pressures were sidelining priority cases.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey praised the departing prosecutors, calling them “heroes for choosing integrity over compliance.” In a social media statement, Frey criticized efforts to prosecute the widow of Good, saying such actions reflected a “cruel and misguided agenda.”
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) echoed the concerns, characterizing the resignations as “a loss for public safety in Minnesota” and warning that sidelining experienced state investigators like the BCA risked undermining transparency.
Governor Tim Walz took aim at Washington directly, asserting the situation showed the administration was “driving out nonpartisan career professionals and replacing them with loyalists.”
Silence From the U.S. Attorney’s Office
The office of newly installed U.S. Attorney Dan Rosen did not respond to inquiries about the resignations or the directives that prompted them. Thompson’s representatives confirmed he would not provide additional comment.
Despite the lack of official clarification, legal experts say the dispute highlights broader tensions between local justice offices and Washington leadership during the past year, as immigration enforcement has increasingly been tied to political messaging.
Broader Implications
Legal scholars note that the dispute may have implications beyond Minnesota, potentially fueling debates over whether federal prosecutions are being steered by political considerations rather than prosecutorial judgment. As multiple fraud cases now hang in the balance, state investigators warn that the sudden loss of institutional expertise may delay court proceedings for months.
For now, the Justice Department has not announced replacements for the departing prosecutors, nor has it clarified whether it will continue pushing for charges against Good’s widow. The fallout from Tuesday’s resignations is expected to continue unfolding in the weeks ahead.
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