Six career federal prosecutors resigned in mass protest after DOJ leadership ordered them to launch a criminal investigation into the widow of Renee Good, who was fatally shot by ICE agents just days earlier.

Mass Exodus Over Politically Motivated Investigation

At least six career prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota submitted resignations on January 13, 2026, refusing orders from senior DOJ officials to pursue criminal charges against Renee Good’s widow. Joe Thompson, who served as acting U.S. Attorney and led major fraud prosecutions worth $9 billion, spearheaded the unprecedented walkout. The prosecutors viewed the directive as a conscience-violating political weaponization of federal law enforcement against a grieving widow whose husband died in controversial circumstances.

The resignations exposed deep fractures within federal law enforcement as career professionals rejected what they saw as partisan directives. Doug Kelley, a former assistant U.S. Attorney with seven years of Minnesota experience, characterized the mass departure as the “darkest day” for rule of law. These dedicated public servants chose their professional integrity over compliance with orders they deemed ethically intolerable, sending shockwaves through the legal community.

DOJ Blocks Civil Rights Probe While Targeting Widow

The Trump administration’s DOJ simultaneously refused to investigate potential civil rights violations in Good’s shooting while demanding prosecutors pursue his widow. Civil rights division prosecutors also resigned in protest over the administration’s decision to block a proper investigation into the ICE shooting incident. The FBI now controls all evidence related to Good’s death, preventing state investigators from accessing crucial materials needed for an independent review.

This selective enforcement pattern reflects the administration’s broader approach to immigration-related incidents. While labeling Good’s actions as “domestic terrorism,” federal officials have deployed unprecedented resources to target his family rather than examine the circumstances surrounding his death. The administration’s messaging frames immigration enforcement as combating “killers and rapists,” justifying aggressive tactics that have separated families and terrorized immigrant communities.

Federal Overreach Sparks State Resistance

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the resignations as evidence of Trump’s systematic purge of nonpartisan professionals, replacing them with political sycophants. The governor praised Thompson as a principled public servant whose departure represents a “huge loss” for federal law enforcement integrity. Walz’s administration has filed lawsuits against DHS over public safety concerns related to the massive ICE deployment exceeding Twin Cities police forces by double.

The federal agent surge has provoked widespread protests across Minneapolis, particularly in areas with large Somali populations. Minnesota’s Twin Cities region hosts the nation’s largest Somali community, with over 250,000 residents now facing heightened deportation risks after Trump terminated Somalia’s Temporary Protected Status. State officials view these coordinated actions as federal overreach designed to intimidate immigrant communities and undermine Minnesota’s sovereignty in protecting its residents.

Operational Chaos Threatens Major Cases

The mass resignations have left the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office severely understaffed, jeopardizing critical prosecutions including the high-profile murders of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark from summer 2025. Thompson also oversaw investigations into attempted murders of Senator John Hoffman and his wife, cases now facing potential delays. The office’s reduced capacity threatens fraud recovery efforts worth billions in state welfare programs.

Former acting U.S. Attorney Anders Folk called the resignations “stunning” and unprecedented, noting that career prosecutors are typically drilled on maintaining apolitical operations. The departures create a recruitment crisis as qualified attorneys hesitate to join an office perceived as politically compromised. This brain drain undermines federal prosecution capacity precisely when complex cases require experienced leadership and institutional knowledge.

Sources:

Governor Walz Statement on Federal Prosecutors Resignations

CBS Minnesota: US Attorney Office Resignations Called ‘Darkest Day’