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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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Over 300 former federal prosecutors wrote to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi Wednesday, urging her to allow local investigations into Renee Good and Alex Pretti’s killings in Minneapolis.
The letter, signed by those who had served across multiple administrations, said that allowing local and state officials in Minnesota to investigate the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens did not mean an admission of wrongdoing by federal agencies.
“No matter which party sits in the White House, DOJ plays a crucial role in ensuring that the American people can trust the justice system to preserve our foundational values of life and liberty,” the prosecutors wrote. “The well-being of the country seems to now sit on a knife’s edge, with President Trump acknowledging that de-escalation is necessary to avoid further loss of life, property, and trust in our institutions.”
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Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for comment via its contact form Wednesday afternoon.
Why It Matters
While the Trump administration was quick to open an investigation into an anti-ICE protest at a church in the Twin Cities, it has initially refused to look into the use of force by immigration agents who shot and killed Good and Pretti in January. Minnesotan leaders have urged the federal government to allow local authorities to investigate the deaths, saying the probes would allow for transparency and impartiality.
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What To Know
Good was fatally shot in her vehicle in a Minneapolis neighborhood on January 7 after, federal officers claim, they feared for their lives as she maneuvered her car. The Trump administration quickly made assessments of the incident, with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem quickly defending the ICE agent involved, sparking concern from local leaders who said their law enforcement agencies were kept out of investigations.
Seventeen days later, on January 24, Pretti, a protest observer and VA nurse, was shot multiple times by a Border Patrol agent. Again, local agencies were kept at a distance. The DHS confirmed last week that two agents allegedly involved in the Pretti incident had been placed on administrative leave.
The letter sent to Bondi on Wednesday urged her and congressional leaders to follow “longstanding, bipartisan law enforcement norms” by sharing evidence with local investigators, allowing them to conduct investigations into the deadly shootings, which have drawn national attention.
Bondi and others in the Trump administration, including Noem, have said they believe the officers’ actions were legal and justified in both instances.
“If the Department’s ultimate assessments of these two shootings reflect confidence that the actions of the involved officers were lawful and justified, there should be no objection to independent state review of both incidents,” the letter read.
Former-DOJ-MN-Sign-On-Letter-02.04.26.pdf.PDF
Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has said it had been denied access to evidence and records around the shootings, something Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has heavily criticized.
On Monday, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office submitted demands for federal information on Good’s death, including all physical evidence, such as firearms and cartridge casings, as well as the names of the agents and officers involved.
What People Are Saying
Cristine Soto DeBerry, executive director of the Prosecutors Alliance, the source of the letter, in a news release: “When someone is killed by a law enforcement officer, justice depends on transparency and independent review – not secrecy. The former federal prosecutors who signed this letter understand better than anyone that cooperation between federal, state, and local authorities is not optional. It is essential to public trust, the rule of law, and the safety of our communities.”
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, in a news release: “The federal government has been clear that they are not conducting an investigation into Renee Good’s death. But we are. We require these records as part of our ongoing thorough investigation into her death at the hands of a federal agent, Jonathan Ross.”
Walz, on X: “It’s time for impartial investigations, the departure of federal forces, and an end to the campaign of retribution against Minnesota.”
Noem, to reporters at a news conference in January: "They [Minnesota authorities] have not been cut out. They don't have any jurisdiction in this investigation."
What Happens Next
The letter came as the Trump administration announced that 700 federal agents would be leaving Minnesota, following discussions with local leaders. Protests have continued around federal immigration enforcement operations, however, with attorneys for both Pretti and Good’s families carrying out their own investigations into the killings.
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