A wave of resignations is rocking the Minneapolis US Attorney’s Office, with at least six prosecutors stepping down in protest. The core of the dispute? A Justice Department directive to investigate the widow of Renee Good, a woman fatally shot by an ICE agent, while simultaneously appearing reluctant to thoroughly examine the agent’s actions.
Newly released cellphone footage from the ICE agent involved in the shooting offers a chilling glimpse into the moments leading up to the incident. The point-of-view video captures a tense confrontation as the agent approached Renee Good’s SUV.
Becca Good, Renee’s wife, is seen and heard verbally challenging the agent. She taunted him, questioning his intentions and even suggesting he “get yourself some lunch, big boy.” The exchange quickly escalated.
As the agent attempted to open the vehicle’s door, he issued a sharp command: “Get out of the f*cking car!” Renee Good, responding to her wife’s urging of “Drive, baby! Drive!”, accelerated the SUV in the agent’s direction.
In a split second, the agent discharged his weapon, fatally striking Renee Good as she attempted to maneuver the vehicle towards him. The incident has ignited a firestorm of controversy and scrutiny.
Beyond the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Justice Department’s subsequent actions have fueled the outrage. Reports indicate a push to investigate Becca Good and her late wife’s connections to groups that monitor and disrupt ICE operations.
The resignations aren’t limited to the Minneapolis office. At least four prosecutors within the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division have also resigned, citing the unit’s refusal to aggressively investigate the ICE agent’s actions, which he claimed were in self-defense.
Among those who resigned from the Minneapolis office is Joe Thompson, a highly respected prosecutor who previously served as the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota. Thompson led the high-profile “Feeding Our Future” case, a $250 million fraud scheme targeting COVID-era school lunch programs.
Thompson’s departure, along with those of Harry Jacobs, Melinda Williams, Thomas Calhoun-Lopez, Ruth Schneider, and Tom Hollenhurst, signals a deep fracture within the Justice Department. The mass exodus raises serious questions about the impartiality and direction of federal investigations.
The scale of these resignations – experienced prosecutors leaving their posts – is unprecedented and suggests a profound disagreement with the department’s handling of this case. It’s a clear indication that principles are being tested and, for these individuals, have been compromised.
