Sources have confirmed to CBS News at least six members of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division have resigned after they learned there would be no civil rights investigation into the ICE agent who shot a woman dead in her car in Minneapolis last week.
The news, first reported by MS NOW, says that several "top leaders" of the criminal section of the Civil Rights Division have left their jobs to register their frustration with the department.
The announcement came after CBS News reported on Friday that career prosecutors in the section had offered to drop all of their work to help investigate the shooting, but they were told there would be no criminal civil rights investigation.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon decided not to investigate the ICE officer shooting Good, who federal authorities including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, claim tried to run down the officer. Video footage of the incident disputes that claim.
According to MS NOW sources, they say that the criminal section of the division would normally investigate any fatal shooting by a law enforcement officer. That arm of the DOJ specializes in probing potential or alleged abuse or improper use of force by law enforcement.
It's not the first mass resignation in the Justice Department. In February, five high-ranking Justice Department officials resigned after a Manhatten-based federal prosecutor refused an order to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams — a stunning escalation in a standoff over the Trump administration prioritizing political aims over criminal culpability.
At that time, the department’s public integrity section, which had been asked to take over the case, was roiled by resignations. The acting chief, three deputy chiefs and a deputy assistant attorney general in the criminal division who oversaw the section resigned.
MS NOW also reported that one source in these latest resignations said the handling of the ICE shooting was not the only concern for the unit leaders and that some were concerned about other decisions by division leadership.
They add that the Justice Department official they spoke to did not dispute the departures but claimed the officials had requested early retirement prior to the Minnesota shooting, adding that “any suggestion to the contrary is false.”
The head of Minnesota's state investigations agency said last week that the U.S. attorney's office has barred it from taking part in the investigation into the shooting. That drew condemnation and frustration from local authorities including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
The Hennepin County Attorney's office and Minnesota Attorney General's office also announced a local effort to collect and preserve evidence in the investigation, and plead for cooperation from the FBI and U.S. Attorney's office. Noem claims the local authorities have "no jurisdiction" in the case, and made it clear the federal authorities believe the ICE officer acted in self-defense, and called Good a "domestic terrorist."
The state of Minnesota and the Twin Cities have already filed a lawsuit against the federal government over to stop an enforcement surge by Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the fatal shooting of Renee Good.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said the Minnesota lawsuit was prioritizing politics over public safety, adding, "we have the Constitution on our side on this, and we look forward to proving that in court."