WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Justice Department does not see any basis to open a criminal civil rights probe into the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, according to a Justice Department official.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement, “There is currently no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation.” Blanche did not elaborate on why the department was not going to open an investigation. The statement was first shared with CNN.
Good was shot by ICE officer Jonathan Ross during an ICE operation in Minneapolis. The shooting was deemed “domestic terrorism” by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Vice President JD Vance called Ross’ actions an act of “self-defense.”
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, which normally plays a role in these types of investigations, has received multiple resignations over the handling of the case.
“The level of grief, tension and anxiety on the ground in Minnesota is not surprising,” said Kristen Clarke, who led the Civil Rights Division under the Biden administration. “And historically the federal government has played an important role by being a neutral and impartial agency committing its resources to conducting a full and fair investigation, and the public loses out when that doesn’t happen.”
Several prosecutors with the department’s Civil Rights Division resigned on Tuesday, including First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson. At least four other prosecutors resigned. Sources told The New York Times that Harry Jacobs, Melinda Williams and Thomas Calhoun-Lopez were the other lawyers who stepped down.
Editor’s Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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