Resignation Wave Hits Minnesota's Federal Prosecutors Amid High-Profile Matter

A significant number of seasoned prosecutors, including Joe Thompson from the Minneapolis U.S. Attorney's office, have stepped down after being tasked with examining the incident involving Renee Good, sources report.

Joe Thompson, who had a brief tenure as Minnesota's acting U.S. Attorney under the Trump administration, which began in June and lasted until October, is among those departing. Joining him in resignation are Harry Jacobs, Melinda Williams, Thomas Calhoun-Lopez, Ruth Schneider, and Tom Hollenhurst.

Thompson gained prominence as the chief prosecutor in the Feeding Our Future case, which exposed a $250 million fraudulent operation targeting school child nutrition programs during COVID-19. Among his efforts, he pursued charges alleging fraudulent activities amounting to $9 billion in Minnesota—an assertion rejected by the state's Governor, Tim Walz.

Following the eruption of this large-scale fraud, former President Trump criticized Minnesota's considerably sized Somali-American population, with many defendants in the case identified as Somali. His administration used the scandal as a pretext for sending numerous federal immigration officers to Minneapolis.

Governor Walz lamented Thompson's departure, describing it as a profound setback for Minnesota. He asserted via social media platform X, that this instance exemplifies Trump's broader effort to replace nonpartisan figures in the Department of Justice with loyal supporters.

Senator Amy Klobuchar conveyed concerns on X about the impact of these resignations, emphasizing that those who have served through significant challenges must be steered by justice rather than political motivations. She noted that the loved ones of Renee Good deserve equitable treatment, not partisan maneuvering.

Within weeks of assuming his role, Thompson took substantial action against Vance Boelter, implicated in a separate high-profile shooting involving a prominent figure and the serious wounding of State Senator John Hoffman and his spouse, Yvette.