Six federal prosecutors, led by acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson, resigned in an unprecedented protest after the Justice Department directed them to investigate the widow of a woman killed by an ICE agent rather than the agent who pulled the trigger. This extraordinary mass resignation from the Minnesota federal prosecutor’s office signals a rare revolt by career prosecutors against what they view as politically motivated investigation priorities, fundamentally challenging the legitimacy of the justice system.
Story Highlights
- Former acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson and five prosecutors quit over DOJ’s refusal to properly investigate ICE agent Jonathan Ross.
- Federal investigators were ordered to probe Renee Good’s activist connections instead of examining the deadly shooting.
- FBI revoked Minnesota’s access to evidence, effectively blocking state-level investigation of the officer’s actions.
- Trump administration characterized the shooting as justified self-defense despite contested eyewitness accounts.
Career Prosecutors Reject Political Pressure
On January 13, 2026, acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson led an extraordinary mass resignation from the Minnesota federal prosecutor’s office. Thompson and five senior prosecutors from the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division walked away from their careers rather than comply with orders to investigate Renee Good’s widow while ignoring the ICE agent who killed her. The New York Times reported Thompson was outraged by the Justice Department’s refusal to include state officials in determining whether the shooting was lawful.
🚨NEW: Federal prosecutor Joseph Thompson has resigned in protest over the Justice Department's push to investigate the family of Renee Good, who was murdered by ICE.
RETWEET to thank Thompson for standing up to Trump! pic.twitter.com/R9MU7gQZaa
— Protect Kamala Harris ✊ (@DisavowTrump20) January 13, 2026
Federal Investigation Targets Victim Instead of Shooter
The Justice Department directed federal investigators to analyze Good’s connections to activist groups protesting Trump administration immigration policies, rather than scrutinizing agent Jonathan Ross’s decision to fire three fatal shots. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche declared there was “no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation” into the shooting itself. This approach contradicts standard law enforcement protocols that typically examine an officer’s use of deadly force before investigating the victim’s background or associations.
Evidence Access Revoked to Block State Investigation
The FBI revoked the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s access to evidence on January 8, abandoning an earlier agreement for joint investigation. This action made it “extremely difficult, if not impossible” for local authorities to conduct an independent examination of the shooting. The federal takeover effectively prevents Minnesota prosecutors from pursuing potential homicide charges against the ICE agent, despite legal proffesionals noting state authorities may have grounds for such action.
Institutional Credibility Under Fire
Former ICE leadership criticized the administration’s rush to justify the shooting before completing any investigation. A former ICE chief told Politico that “37-year-old mothers don’t typically try to kill federal officers,” questioning how the incident could be declared justified without examining evidence like phone records and communications. Legal professionals and former federal officials noted that the administration’s hasty defense damaged public trust in ICE and undermined the credibility of any federal investigation.
The mass resignation represents a rare revolt by career prosecutors against what they view as politically motivated investigation priorities. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara emphasized that “the legitimacy of the justice system depends on institutions,” implicitly criticizing the DOJ’s approach. This institutional breakdown signals deeper problems within federal law enforcement agencies when political considerations override standard investigative procedures and prosecutorial independence.
Watch the report: Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson resigns amid Renee Good probe
Sources:
- Six Prosecutors Quit Over DOJ Push to Investigate Renee Good’s Widow – The New York Times
- Joe Thompson, Minnesota’s top federal fraud prosecutor, quits over ICE shooting probe | MPR News
- Minnesota fraud prosecutor Joe Thompson resigns over ICE shooting probe: reports – Axios Twin Cities
