Attorney General Pam Bondi fires five Minnesota federal prosecutors who demanded taxpayer-funded paid leave until April while refusing to cooperate with ICE investigations, exposing the depth of deep-state resistance to Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.
Story Highlights
- AG Pam Bondi terminated five Minnesota prosecutors after they submitted resignations and demanded paid leave through April
- Prosecutors refused to cooperate with ICE investigations following the fatal shooting of activist Renee Good during immigration enforcement
- Lead prosecutor Joe Thompson previously exposed massive $250 million fraud case targeting Minnesota’s welfare programs
- Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey praised the fired prosecutors as “heroes” while calling DOJ officials “monsters”
DOJ Takes Decisive Action Against Insubordination
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche terminated five federal prosecutors from Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office on Wednesday after they attempted to manipulate the system by demanding extended paid vacation while obstructing federal immigration enforcement. The prosecutors, led by former First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, had submitted early retirement notices but then brazenly requested taxpayer-funded compensation through April without fulfilling their duties. This coordinated act of defiance represented a clear challenge to federal authority under the Trump administration’s renewed commitment to immigration enforcement.
🚨 HOLY CRAP! AG Pam Bondi just dropped a bomb — she says she FIRED six DOJ prosecutors in Minnesota after they turned on ICE and tried to make taxpayers fund a paid “vacation” on the way out.
“I fired them all. They’re DONE. Out of the office!” 🔥
“Six prosecutors suddenly… pic.twitter.com/OVsCc1MlWh
— Charlie’s Voice Rising (@CharlieK_news) January 15, 2026
ICE Shooting Investigation Reveals Deep-State Obstruction
The controversy stems from January 7, when an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good during an immigration enforcement operation after she allegedly accelerated her vehicle toward the officer. Evidence suggests Good and her spouse had been following ICE officers earlier, raising serious questions about premeditated confrontation. While Thompson acknowledged the shooting appeared justified as an assault on law enforcement, he and his colleagues opposed investigating Good’s widow for potential conspiracy charges. Their refusal to cooperate with the federal probe directly undermined ICE operations and threatened officer safety protocols established to protect immigration enforcement personnel.
Minnesota’s History of Fraud and Federal Intervention
Thompson had previously led the investigation into Minnesota’s massive $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scandal, which targeted state welfare programs and resulted in dozens of indictments within Somali communities. The fraud case highlighted Minnesota’s leadership in welfare abuse under Democratic governance, contributing to Governor Tim Walz’s decision not to seek re-election amid the scandal’s fallout. This background makes the prosecutors’ sudden opposition to federal enforcement particularly troubling, suggesting potential political motivations rather than legitimate law enforcement concerns. The pattern reveals how Minnesota’s sanctuary city policies have consistently enabled both fraud and resistance to immigration enforcement.
Liberal Officials Rally Against Federal Authority
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey immediately condemned the Justice Department’s actions, calling the terminated prosecutors “heroes” while labeling DOJ officials as “monsters.” His response perfectly encapsulates the liberal establishment’s reflexive opposition to legitimate federal law enforcement, particularly regarding immigration. Frey’s sanctuary city policies have consistently prioritized protecting illegal immigrants over supporting federal officers risking their lives to enforce immigration law. The mayor’s inflammatory rhetoric demonstrates how Democratic officials weaponize local positions to undermine federal authority and endanger immigration enforcement operations.
The terminations send a clear message that the Trump administration will not tolerate insubordination or manipulation of federal resources by prosecutors who prioritize political resistance over law enforcement duties. This decisive action reinforces federal control over immigration investigations while preventing future attempts to exploit the system through coordinated resignations followed by demands for extended paid leave.
Sources:
Top federal prosecutor who exposed massive $250M Minnesota fraud case steps down from position
Top federal Minnesota prosecutors officially terminated after dispute over ICE shooting probe
