Dem
47
GOP
53
If a prosecutor, or other officeholder, in Minneapolis is committed to the rule of law, then they are going to go all-in on trying to secure justice for the killers of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. If a prosecutor, or other officeholder, in Minneapolis is committed to the cause of advancing their own careers, then they are going to go all-in on trying to secure justice for the killers of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Whether prosecution is selfless, selfish, or both, we have always expected that this matter would be pursued with great vigor. And, by all evidences, that is what is happening.
Yesterday, Minnesota sued the Trump administration, seeking evidence from both of those two killings, as well as from the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis. The state, represented by AG Keith Ellison, argues in its filing that information is being held back, and a cover-up is underway, and that this is all being instigated by people at "the highest levels."
We've taken the view that even the publicly available information (e.g., the videos) is likely enough to mount a case, and very possibly to secure a conviction, keeping in mind that juries like to see to it that someone pays a price when a crime is committed, and jurors have been known to be guided as much by emotion as by the law. If Minnesota can gain additional evidence through this filing, then that is gravy.
The White House may have already painted itself into a corner here, since the Department of Justice does not claim there is no evidence, but instead that the administration has no duty to share what they have with authorities in Minnesota. This is a shaky argument, at best, and federal judges are not likely to look kindly upon it. If someone in the administration destroys the evidence, that would be a federal crime. If the judges order the evidence be turned over, then "AG" Pam Bondi or anyone else who resists is likely to be found in contempt, and to be fined bigly until they take care of business.
Add it up, and we think two things: (1) Minnesota is going to get that evidence, sooner or later, and (2) This is not going away, and the officers who shot Good, Pretti and Sosa-Celis should be very, very nervous. (Z)