Friday, January 16, 2026- A group of 33 former federal prosecutors in Minnesota has urged the Trump administration to rethink its decision to exclude the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) from the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal agent earlier this month.
In a letter sent to federal leaders, the former prosecutors argued that barring state investigators undermines the thoroughness and credibility of the inquiry and departs from long-standing practice of joint state-federal probes.
The appeal comes amid controversy over the handling of the case, which has already prompted resignations by career prosecutors, including former acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, in protest of the Justice Department’s direction.
The ex-prosecutors say cooperation with the BCA is crucial, not only to ensure an unbiased and complete criminal investigation but also to maintain public trust in the justice process. They noted that Minnesota has a history of collaborative investigations between state and federal authorities in serious cases.
At the heart of the dispute is whether state officials should have jurisdiction in investigating the shooting, as federal authorities have asserted sole control. Local legal experts and some former U.S. attorneys argue a joint investigation would be more appropriate given the circumstances of Good’s killing.
The letter underscores that departing from established cooperative norms could have long-term implications for law enforcement work in Minnesota and signals deep unease among seasoned prosecutors about the current course of the investigation.
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