Fallout from Pretti probe deepens as prosecutors hint at a drastic move inside the DOJ

Federal prosecutors in Minneapolis are warning they could resign en masse over how the Department of Justice is handling investigations into two fatal shootings involving immigration officers, a move that would severely disrupt the local U.S. Attorney’s office. The controversy stems from the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, which have triggered internal turmoil and staffing concerns within the Minnesota office.

The situation came to light through reporting by The Washington Post, which detailed warnings delivered to U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, President Trump’s appointee. Prosecutors told Rosen they are deeply frustrated with direction from Washington and cautioned that mass resignations would leave the office unable to manage its caseload.

At least one prosecutor in the criminal division has already resigned following a meeting with Rosen this week. That departure follows an earlier wave of resignations this month, including the office’s second-in-command, after Justice Department leadership instructed local attorneys not to investigate the shooting of Good and instead pursue a case against her partner.

The pressure inside the office has been building for weeks

The Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s office is authorized for roughly 70 attorneys, but is currently operating at about half that level. While some departures occurred before Trump took office, additional resignations from both the criminal and civil divisions are expected. The Justice Department has temporarily reassigned prosecutors from other Midwestern offices, but that effort has not offset the growing workload, reflecting broader tensions around immigration enforcement and funding debates like the DHS funding bill standoff.

The unrest centers on two fatal shootings that occurred roughly two and a half weeks apart during confrontations with immigration officers in Minneapolis. After Pretti was shot on January 24, administration officials announced that the Department of Homeland Security would lead the investigation. That decision angered local prosecutors, who believed their office should have been directly involved.

In typical federal cases, officer-involved shootings include participation from criminal and civil rights prosecutors, with use-of-force reviews often handled as potential civil rights violations. A civil rights investigation into the Good shooting was briefly opened before being abruptly redirected, further intensifying frustration inside the office amid heightened political scrutiny, including reaction to the Ilhan Omar incident.

Legal experts note that charges against officers for lethal force are rare due to the discretion granted under federal law, though they emphasize the importance of fully applying all relevant statutes to the facts. Both shootings were captured on cellphone video and sparked bipartisan criticism tied to the administration’s immigration crackdown, known in Minnesota as Operation Metro Surge.

The policy has also strained the federal court system. Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz wrote this week that immigration officials have violated 96 court orders since the operation began, stating they have “likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.”

A Justice Department spokesperson responded to questions about potential resignations by citing a February 2025 memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasizing “zealous advocacy,” which warns attorneys could face discipline if they do not vigorously defend presidential policies.