Klobuchar Calls on DOJ to Open Civil Rights Investigation into the Death of Renee Good

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with every other Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to heed the calls of career prosecutors and open a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minneapolis earlier this month.

In their letter to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, the Senators emphasize that DOJ's decision not to investigate Ms. Good's killing represents a broader trend of how the Department is neglecting the enforcement of civil rights laws.

The Senators' letter comes after Assistant AG Dhillon announced that DOJ's Civil Rights Division would not investigate Ms. Good's killing-reportedly ignoring the recommendations of career prosecutors, including the head of the Criminal Section, and despite the leading role the Civil Rights Division office normally assumes in investigating potential civil rights violations. The letter was sent last week, before a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Along with Klobuchar the letter was signed by Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).

"Your decision not to investigate the ICE agent's conduct is a marked departure from past administrations of both parties, which historically have taken swift action to open civil rights reviews of many fatal interactions with law enforcement. These investigations have been conducted even when criminal charges were considered unlikely," wrote the Senators. "After you informed Division personnel that you would not consider opening an investigation into whether the ICE agent violated federal law, several career prosecutors -including the head of the Criminal Section, which is responsible for these investigations-accelerated planned departures from the Division."

"Instead of investigating Ms. Good's killing, DOJ has announced the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota would investigate alleged connections between Ms. Good and her widow and groups that have been monitoring ICE activity in Minneapolis. DOJ ordered federal agents to conduct its investigation without Minnesota's local authorities," the Senators continued. "Refusing to share investigative materials or permit a joint investigation is highly unusual. Six lawyers from the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota have also resigned in protest of this investigation."

The full letter is here and below.

Dear Assistant Attorney General Dhillon:

On January 7, 2026, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Two days later, you announced the Division would not investigate the fatal incident-despite the reported request of career prosecutors in your office to do so and despite the leading role your office normally assumes in investigating potential violations of 18 U.S.C. 242.

Your decision not to investigate the ICE agent's conduct is a marked departure from past administrations of both parties, which historically have taken swift action to open civil rights reviews of many fatal interactions with law enforcement. These investigations have been conducted even when criminal charges were considered unlikely.

According to public reporting, multiple career prosecutors in the Division offered to lead an inquiry into the shooting. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, second-in-command at the Department of Justice (DOJ), reinforced your decision to take an investigation off the table when he publicly claimed there was "no basis" for a civil rights probe into Ms. Good's death. His assertion is contradicted by a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent's determination-after an initial review-that sufficient grounds existed to open a civil rights investigation into the ICE agent who shot Ms. Good.

After you informed Division personnel that you would not consider opening an investigation into whether the ICE agent violated federal law, several career prosecutors-including the head of the Criminal Section, which is responsible for these investigations-accelerated planned departures from the Division.

Instead of investigating Ms. Good's killing, DOJ has announced the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota would investigate alleged connections between Ms. Good and her widow and groups that have been monitoring ICE activity in Minneapolis. DOJ ordered federal agents to conduct its investigation without Minnesota's local authorities. Refusing to share investigative materials or permit a joint investigation is highly unusual. Six lawyers from the U.S. Attorney's office in Minnesota have also resigned in protest of this investigation.

Your decision not to investigate Ms. Good's killing reflects a trend in the Division under your leadership of ignoring the enforcement of civil rights laws in favor of carrying out President Trump's political agenda. This trend, combined with apparent political interference in investigative and prosecutorial decisions, undermines public trust, the legitimacy of our institutions, and the rule of law. We urge you to listen to career prosecutors and open a civil rights investigation into the death of Ms. Good.

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