The BareStory
Six federal prosecutors from the Minneapolis U.S. Attorney's office resigned on or before January 13, 2026, amid intensifying conflict over the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. The resigning officials include former acting U.S. attorney Joe Thompson. According to sources familiar with the matter, the departures were prompted by concerns regarding the handling of the case, including pressure to treat the incident as an assault on a federal officer and a refusal by federal investigators to cooperate with Minnesota state agencies.
The investigation into the January 7 death of Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, has generated a significant jurisdictional dispute. The FBI informed Minnesota officials that it would conduct the inquiry independently and has allegedly denied state authorities access to key evidence, such as shell casings and witness interviews. While Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem argued that state authorities have no jurisdiction to investigate a federal agent, Minnesota officials expressed alarm at the exclusion. In response, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced a joint effort with the state attorney general to gather evidence directly from the public.
The shooting occurred while Good was reportedly blocking a road in an SUV; an agent fired after she drove the vehicle forward despite orders to exit. The incident took place following the Trump administration's deployment of thousands of federal agents to the region, citing a fraud scandal. Since the shooting, local activist groups have escalated demonstrations and surveillance of federal agents, drawing scrutiny over their funding from major national foundations.
Political fallout has reached Washington, where lawmakers face a January 30 government shutdown deadline. Congressional Democrats are negotiating Department of Homeland Security funding with proposed conditions, such as mandatory body cameras and training reforms. While a memo from the think tank Third Way urged Democrats to avoid "Abolish ICE" rhetoric, progressives have renewed calls to dismantle the agency in the wake of Good's death.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• You may experience service disruptions if a government shutdown occurs after the January 30 deadline, as lawmakers clash over DHS funding and proposed agency reforms.
• Federal law enforcement interactions could change if Congress passes negotiated mandates requiring body cameras and updated training for Department of Homeland Security agents.
• Your local officials may face restricted authority to investigate federal agents in your community, as the administration asserts exclusive federal jurisdiction over personnel conduct.
• Residents in areas with significant federal deployments may encounter heightened civil tensions as activist groups increase surveillance and demonstrations against government agents.
