Several career prosecutors in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are leaving their posts, sources told NBC News, marking another wave of departures from a division that has already seen steep staffing losses over the past year.
Decision Tied to Minneapolis Shooting Case
At least six prosecutors, most of them supervisors in the division’s criminal section, announced their exits during a staff meeting Monday. The move followed reports that the Justice Department would not pursue a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a federal immigration agent.
Shift in Investigation Approach
Sources said career prosecutors had offered to pause other work to assist with the case, which was initially considered as a possible “color of law” excessive-force investigation. That approach was later abandoned, with the case instead treated as an assault on a federal officer, framing the agent as the victim.
Disputes Over Accountability
Video from the scene shows the agent firing at the woman’s vehicle as it drove away and officers appearing not to provide immediate medical aid afterward. Senior Trump administration officials have publicly blamed the woman, while some legal experts argue the footage warrants a full civil rights probe.
Official Response and Retirements
A Justice Department official said leadership in the criminal section is leaving under an early retirement program and insisted plans to retire predated the Minneapolis case. Several sources, however, said the handling of the shooting factored into the timing of this week’s announcement.
Broader Exodus and Internal Frustration
The Civil Rights Division has lost roughly 75% of its staff across sections in 2025, amid complaints that political leadership has narrowed the division’s traditional mission. Prosecutors have also cited past interventions in high-profile cases, including civil rights prosecutions involving police misconduct, as contributing to morale issues.
Role of the Civil Rights Division
The criminal section handles hate crimes and cases involving law enforcement abuse, including excessive force and denial of medical care. Civil rights advocates warn that declining to investigate highly visible cases could discourage accountability and allow abuses to go unaddressed.
For more on the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.