Attorney General Pam Bondi’s explosive declaration, “I FIRED THEM ALL,” shattered the media narrative that federal prosecutors had heroically resigned in protest, revealing instead a calculated power grab that backfired spectacularly.
The Real Story Behind the Firings
Media outlets initially portrayed the departures as noble resignations over civil rights concerns, but the truth proved far different. The five prosecutors, including star fraud investigator Joe Thompson, had submitted early retirement paperwork and then made an audacious demand: they wanted a taxpayer-funded paid vacation until April while actively refusing to cooperate with the federal investigation into the ICE shooting.
This wasn’t principled dissent but calculated obstruction. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Bondi decided to terminate them rather than reward their defiance with months of paid leave. The prosecutors had overplayed their hand, assuming the new administration would buckle under pressure.
Thompson’s Contradictory Position Exposed Internal Conflicts
Joe Thompson’s stance revealed the prosecutors’ muddled thinking. During internal calls, he acknowledged the ICE shooting appeared justified as self-defense against an assault on law enforcement. Yet he simultaneously objected to investigating Renee Good’s widow, Becca Good, despite evidence suggesting the couple had followed ICE officers earlier in what officials characterized as stalking behavior.
Thompson had built his reputation exposing Minnesota’s nation-leading welfare fraud, including the $250 million Feeding Our Future scandal that contributed to Governor Tim Walz’s decision not to seek re-election. His willingness to investigate fraud in Minnesota’s Somali community demonstrated prosecutorial courage, making his selective objections to the ICE probe all the more puzzling.
Minneapolis Mayor’s Desperate Damage Control
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s response exposed the political motivations driving the controversy. He called the terminated prosecutors “heroes” while labeling DOJ officials “monsters” for enforcing federal authority. This inflammatory rhetoric revealed how sanctuary city leaders view any cooperation with immigration enforcement as betrayal.
Frey’s praise for prosecutors who refused to investigate potential crimes against federal officers while demanding paid time off demonstrates the upside-down priorities plaguing blue city leadership. The mayor positioned obstruction of justice as heroism while treating law enforcement protection as villainy.
Evidence Supports Federal Officers’ Actions
The shooting occurred when Renee Good allegedly accelerated her vehicle toward an ICE agent during an immigration enforcement operation. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described Good as having “weaponized” her vehicle against federal officers. Evidence suggests that Good and her spouse had been following ICE officers earlier, behavior that officials characterized as stalking.
The FBI is investigating the incident as an assault on a federal officer rather than a civil rights violation. This determination contradicts the terminated prosecutors’ apparent preference for treating it as excessive force. Multiple agencies, including ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility, are conducting parallel investigations while excluding the fired Minnesota prosecutors from involvement.
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