On Wednesday, several federal prosecutors in Minnesota were officially dismissed after resigning due to internal disagreements regarding the Justice Department’s approach to a shooting investigation linked to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Department of Justice, under the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, let go of five prosecutors, including Joseph Thompson, who was the second-in-command at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota. This information was disclosed by sources familiar with the situation.
The disputes surrounding the shooting investigation first came to light recently. Prosecutors had planned to take several months of paid leave before their termination on Wednesday, based on insider accounts.
Previously, Thompson had been leading a significant investigation into welfare fraud in Minnesota. His resignation followed conflicts with Washington, D.C. officials regarding the ICE shooting that resulted in the death of 37-year-old Renee Good. Fox News Digital attempted to contact Thompson through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for comments.
It was reported that Thompson suggested during a recent call with Justice Department and FBI officials that the investigation into the ICE shooting should be framed as an assault or obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Sources indicated that Melinda Williams, another dismissed prosecutor involved in the fraud investigation, was present during that call. Furthermore, Thompson reportedly expressed his belief that the shooting was justified, even as he contemplated resigning prior to the incident.
Video footage capturing the shooting reveals ICE officers accelerating towards Good, who stood in front of her car, before they opened fire from close range. Critics argue the agent misused deadly force, noting that Good allegedly moved her car away from the agent before speeding off.
The FBI is looking into the shooting case but has excluded Minnesota prosecutors from the investigation, which the Trump administration defends since it involves federal personnel. This decision has faced criticism from Minnesota state leaders, who have initiated their own investigation parallel to the FBI’s.
Thompson views the investigation as countering law enforcement rather than a civil rights issue. Yet, in a recent call, he hesitated regarding the Justice Department’s plan to investigate Good’s widow and other possible co-conspirators, according to those who were privy to the conversation. FBI findings suggest that Good and her spouse may have followed ICE agents on the day of the shooting.
This mirrors Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s recent comments, claiming Good was “stalking and obstructing” ICE that day. Moreover, she accused Good of “weaponizing” her vehicle, implying that the ICE officer felt endangered.
In a statement to Minnesota Public Radio, Good’s spouse, Becca, explained that they aimed to show support on January 7, the day of the incident. “We had whistles. They had guns,” she recalled.
In the wake of the shooting, familiar protest groups have emerged. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, alongside other Democratic lawmakers, commended the resigning prosecutors, recognizing their actions as a courageous stance against the Justice Department. He tweeted, “These prosecutors are heroes and the people trying to indict Renee’s widow are monsters.”
Currently, there’s no sign that the Justice Department intends to charge Becca Good, even though investigations persist regarding any possible conspiracy to obstruct federal law enforcement.
Fox News Digital has sought comments from the Department of Justice.
