Another mass DOJ exodus in Minnesota triggers alarms: 'They’re going to run out'

Chaos continues at the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office, which is hemorrhaging more talent, with eight more federal prosecutors heading for the exits, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported Monday.

The latest wave of departures comes on the heels of a startling mass exodus last month, when six veteran prosecutors walked away in protest over controversial Justice Department directives — including a widely condemned refusal to launch a civil rights investigation into the killing of 37-year-old mother Renee Good, who was gunned down in her car by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Among the prosecutors abandoning ship is Ana Voss, the civil division chief, who has frantically juggled hundreds of wrongful detention petitions since federal immigration enforcement operations ramped up across Minnesota.

On Monday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that all federal agents in Minnesota would be outfitted with body-worn cameras effective immediately, a move that raised eyebrows given the mounting legal fallout.

Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi doubled down on the pressure, announcing that two additional people have been arrested over an anti-ICE demonstration that erupted at a St. Paul church last month.

The news of the exodus shocked observers.

Adam Klasfeld‪, editor in chief of All Rise News, wrote on Bluesky, "Trump DOJ's hollowing out of experienced prosecutors with integrity continues."

Jake Schwitzer‪, executive director at North Star Policy Action, ‬wrote on Bluesky, "According to this article from last week, they were down to 17 attorneys. So now just 9? In an office that usually has at least 50."

Minnesotan Kat Rohn reacted simply on Bluesky, "Oh."

Eric Columbus,, senior editor at Lawfare, wrote on Bluesky, "Notably this includes Ana Voss, head of the civil division, whom Chief Judge Schiltz thanked by name for handling a deluge of habeas petitions in response to ICE’s barrage of unconstitutional arrests."

Aaron Sojourner‪, labor economist at the nonpartisan W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, wrote on Bluesky, "Because the higher ups are trying to force them to use their public powers illegally or unethically."

Minnesota lawyer Andrew Rothstein‪ lamented on Bluesky, "At this pace they’re going to run out of federal prosecutors here in Minnesota."