In a significant shake-up, at least six career prosecutors from the Minneapolis U.S. Attorney's office have resigned, including notable figures like Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson. This wave of resignations comes as the office faces mounting pressure to treat the investigation into the tragic shooting of a Minneapolis woman by an ICE officer as a case of assault on a federal officer.
Joe Thompson, who previously held the position of acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota after his appointment by President Trump in June, has now stepped down along with his colleagues Harry Jacobs, Melinda Williams, Thomas Calhoun-Lopez, Ruth Schneider, and Tom Hollenhurst. While CBS News has yet to confirm the specific reasons behind all the resignations, it is clear that significant tensions exist within the office.
Reports from The New York Times indicate that senior officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ) were advocating for a criminal investigation into the actions of the widow of the shooting victim, probing potential ties to activist groups. This has raised alarms among the prosecutors, particularly Thompson, who was the lead prosecutor in the high-profile Feeding Our Future case. This case, linked to a $250 million scheme aimed at defrauding programs designed to feed schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic, has drawn considerable attention.
Thompson’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, as he has also brought charges against individuals accused of defrauding various services, claiming that fraud in Minnesota has exceeded a staggering $9 billion. However, this figure has been contested by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who has publicly questioned its accuracy.
According to Doug Kelley, a former assistant U.S. attorney for Minnesota, the resignations represent a major blow to the credibility of the U.S. Attorney's office going forward. Kelley expressed his dismay, stating, "I've been practicing federal criminal law in this state for 51 years, and this is the darkest day in 51 years as far as I can see for the rule of law in Minnesota." He emphasized that the resignations reflect a moral stance against directives that may compromise their integrity.
In the wake of the fraud scandal, President Trump has directed criticism towards Minnesota's large Somali-American community, as many defendants involved in the Feeding Our Future case are of Somali descent. His administration has used the scandal to justify the deployment of thousands of federal immigration agents in the Minneapolis area.
Governor Walz described Thompson's resignation as a significant loss for Minnesota, asserting that it reflects a broader trend of political interference in the justice system. "It's also the latest sign Trump is pushing nonpartisan career professionals out of the justice department, replacing them with his sycophants," Walz remarked on X.
Senator Amy Klobuchar also voiced her concerns on social media, stating that these career public servants have provided essential services during numerous crises. "We cannot allow prosecutors to be driven by politics. The family and loved ones of Renee Good deserve justice, not political attacks," Klobuchar emphasized.
Thompson's prosecutorial work extends beyond the Feeding Our Future case; he has also filed charges against Vance Boelter, the individual accused of killing former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, as well as injuring state Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, the latter of whom survived the attack.
This situation is developing rapidly, and we encourage readers to check back for updates and further details as this story unfolds.