Police unions in Minnesota are pressuring Governor Tim Walz to remove an elected prosecutor in Hennepin County for prosecuting a state trooper who shot and killed a Black man. Four Republican members of Congress have also expressed outrage over the case and called for an investigation into the prosecutor. The pressure campaign has been effective so far, with the governor questioning the prosecutor’s handling of the charges.
This case is part of a larger trend of reform-minded prosecutors being attacked for holding police accountable for misconduct. Similar situations have occurred in Florida and Texas, where prosecutors who took action against law enforcement were removed. Police unions have been leading the charge against these prosecutors, claiming they are targeting officers without evidence.
The attacks on prosecutors like Mary Moriarty in Minnesota are not just about safety, but about maintaining power and avoiding accountability. Reform prosecutors who have been elected on platforms of criminal justice reform are facing backlash from law enforcement and their supporters. The removals and attacks on these prosecutors are part of a larger effort to maintain the status quo and prevent accountability for police officers who abuse their power.
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Photo credit theintercept.com
