MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. —The Justice Department has declined to open a criminal civil rights investigation into the deadly ICE shooting of Renee Good, a Minnesota woman killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, sparking backlash from state officials and civil rights advocates.
The DOJ confirmed this week that its Civil Rights Division currently sees no basis for a probe, despite an ongoing FBI investigation. The decision marks a sharp departure from past federal responses to law enforcement shootings and has already triggered resignations within the Justice Department.
DOJ Says No Basis for Civil Rights Probe
In a statement released by CNN, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Tuesday that the Justice Department does not believe there is sufficient evidence at this time to justify a criminal civil rights investigation into the shooting.
In a brief statement, Blanche said federal officials determined there was “no current basis” to pursue civil rights charges. The department did not publicly explain how it reached that conclusion or what evidence was reviewed before making the determination.
While the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division has been sidelined, the FBI is continuing its own investigation into the incident.
Federal Officials Claim Self-Defense
Federal authorities have claimed the ICE officer involved acted in self-defense, alleging that Good used her vehicle to advance toward the officer. The administration has gone as far as characterizing the woman’s actions as an act of “domestic terrorism.”
Minnesota Officials Blocked From Evidence
Minnesota officials say their concerns intensified after federal authorities reportedly blocked state investigators from accessing evidence, insisting the state has no jurisdiction over the killing.
The move caused outrage among state leaders, who say the federal government is preventing transparency and accountability. Minnesota officials have since sued the Trump administration in an attempt to halt certain ICE operations in the state following the shooting.
Federal Prosecutors Resign Amid Turmoil
The new controversy has caused a wave of resignations inside the Justice Department.
Sources familiar with the situation say roughly half a dozen federal prosecutors in Minnesota have resigned, along with several senior supervisors from the Civil Rights Division’s criminal section in Washington, D.C.
Among those stepping down is Joseph Thompson, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney in Minnesota, who had been overseeing major fraud investigations in the state and was appointed by Trump himself. At least five other prosecutors reportedly followed his lead during what insiders describe as a tense and unstable period inside the office.
DOJ Pushes Back on Political Pressure Claims
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called the resignations “a loss for public safety,” warning that federal prosecutions should never be influenced by politics.
Joe Thompson led investigations into fraud, the assassination of Melissa and Mark Hortman, and the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting. I worked to help make Joe acting U.S. Attorney during a critical time. This is a loss for our state and for public safety.
The DOJ’s…
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) January 13, 2026
Gov. Tim Walz also voiced concern, suggesting the departures point to mounting political pressure on career Justice Department officials.
Joe is a principled public servant who spent more than a decade achieving justice for Minnesotans. This is a huge loss for our state.
It’s also the latest sign Trump is pushing nonpartisan career professionals out of the justice department, replacing them with his sycophants.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) January 13, 2026
The DOJ, however, denied any connection, claiming the departing Civil Rights Division prosecutors had requested early retirement well before the Minnesota shooting and dismissing any suggestion otherwise as false.
