State officials seek access to federal evidence while the governor outlines collaboration with civil rights organizations and international bodies.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Minnesota officials have initiated a federal lawsuit against agencies within the Trump administration in an effort to obtain information related to multiple shootings involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection personnel.
The legal action follows incidents in Minneapolis and surrounding areas that involved the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, as well as the wounding of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis during encounters with federal agents earlier this year. State authorities are seeking access to investigative materials after federal agencies declined to provide requested evidence.
According to reporting by ProPublica, local officials had initially pursued a cooperative investigation with federal authorities, similar to prior cases involving federal law enforcement. However, prosecutors from Hennepin County and the state moved forward with litigation after those efforts did not result in access to evidence.
The lawsuit targets the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, with officials describing the action as a significant escalation in an effort to obtain records tied to the shootings. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty characterized the move as “unprecedented in American history.”
Federal officials have not publicly released the identities of the agents involved in the shootings, despite separate reporting by the Minnesota Star Tribune and ProPublica identifying individuals connected to the incidents.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the lack of cooperation from federal agencies prompted the legal challenge. “The federal government has refused to cooperate with state law enforcement, which is unique, rare and simply cannot be tolerated,” Ellison told reporters. “[We] can’t sit around and let them do it.”
Governor Tim Walz discussed the broader effort during an appearance highlighted in a video segment, stating that the state has assembled a commission and is working with multiple organizations to document the incidents.
“We’ve always partnered with our federal authorities when needed, and I made the move yesterday, using my executive authority to put a commission together,” Walz said. “We are capturing all of the stories. We being the ACLU, a lot of groups, especially immigrant groups, folks at the United Nations and in Geneva are working because what happened in Minnesota and the absolute horrific assault on this state, if this happened in another country— it wasn’t that long ago that the United States was a voice of reason, decency and human rights— We would investigate those things.”
He added that the effort would continue beyond the current administration. “We’re going to do that here, and we’re going to capture these stories. And so if Donald Trump, like so many things, thinks he can move on from Greenland, Venezuela, pirate of the war in Iran that he started, till his till the final days of this administration and beyond, Minnesotans will ask for justice. We demand it. We have to do that.”
Legal analysts say the case could have broader implications. Alicia Bannon, director of the judiciary program at the Brennan Center for Justice, noted that the outcome may influence how similar cases are handled nationwide. “State prosecutors across the country are going to be watching what happens in Minnesota really closely,” she said.
The lawsuit underscores an ongoing dispute between state and federal authorities over access to investigative materials and jurisdiction in cases involving federal law enforcement actions.
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