Minnesota sues for access to evidence in killings of Good and Pretti
Lawsuit alleges US federal authorities blocked state investigators from key evidence and information
Minnesota sued the federal government on Tuesday, seeking access to evidence in the fatal shootings by federal officers of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and a shooting that injured another man during an immigration enforcement surge in the state, according to a complaint.
The lawsuit against the US Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security alleges authorities blocked state investigators from key evidence and information related to the shootings.
In late January, following the killing of Pretti, a court granted the state a temporary restraining order barring federal investigators from destroying evidence in the investigation. The restraining order was eventually dissolved by the judge who granted it.
“Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief to set aside Defendants’ unlawful policy of non-cooperation and their resulting refusal to comply with the investigative demands of Minnesota authorities,” according to the complaint.
The lawsuit highlights the confrontation between local and state officials in Minnesota and the Trump administration over the investigations into the shootings, which fuelled protests over the administration’s hardline immigration crackdown in the state.