• FBI supervisor Tracee Mergen resigned after Trump administration officials pressured her to discontinue a civil rights inquiry into ICE agent Jonathan Ross
• The Justice Department instead directed investigators to probe Renee Good and her partner for potential criminal liability even after her death
• At least six federal prosecutors have also resigned over the handling of the investigation into the January 7 shooting

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (TDR) — A veteran FBI supervisor has resigned from the bureau after Trump administration officials pressured her to abandon a civil rights investigation into the ICE agent who fatally shot Renee Good, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. Tracee Mergen, who served as acting supervisor of the Public Corruption Squad in the FBI’s Minneapolis field office, stepped down following directives from Washington leadership to reclassify the probe into an investigation of the victim herself.

The resignation marks the latest escalation in a controversy that has already prompted mass departures from federal law enforcement and drawn sharp criticism from Minnesota officials. Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed on January 7 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross during an immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security immediately defended the shooting as self-defense, claiming Good attempted to run over Ross with her vehicle—a characterization disputed by video evidence and eyewitness accounts.

Pressure To Drop Civil Rights Probe

Mergen initially opened a civil rights investigation into Ross’s conduct, working alongside the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in a joint probe that is standard protocol for fatal shootings involving federal officers. However, FBI leadership in Washington soon directed her to reclassify the investigation as an inquiry into an alleged assault on the ICE agent rather than an examination of potential excessive force, according to sources who spoke with The New York Times and CNN.

“The agent, Tracee Mergen, left her job as a supervisor in the FBI’s Minneapolis field office after bureau leadership in Washington pressured her to discontinue a civil rights inquiry into the immigration officer, Jonathan Ross.” —The New York Times, January 23, 2026

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10

The FBI subsequently blocked Minnesota state investigators from accessing evidence in the case, reversing an earlier agreement for joint cooperation. Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner officials stated it would be “extremely difficult, if not impossible” for local authorities to continue their investigation without federal cooperation.

DOJ Sought To Investigate Victim

In a highly unusual move, aides to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche directed FBI agents and prosecutors to shift the focus of the investigation from Ross to Good and her partner, Becca Good, according to three people briefed on the discussions. Investigators were instructed to examine whether the couple had ties to left-wing protest groups and to draft search warrants treating the deceased Good as a suspect rather than the officer who shot her.

“Aides to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche directed the U.S. Attorney’s office and FBI agents based in Minnesota to shut down a civil rights investigation into an officer’s fatal shooting of Renee Good and instead alter it to probe Good for possible criminal liability.” —MS NOW, January 23, 2026

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE THE DUPREE REPORT

A federal magistrate judge rejected the proposed warrant, noting that Good was already dead and could not be considered a suspect. Judicial observers called the rejection exceptionally rare, as the standard for granting federal search warrants is typically low, requiring only probable cause.

Wave of Resignations Hits Federal Law Enforcement

Mergen’s departure follows the resignation of at least six federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, who gained prominence as lead prosecutor in the high-profile Feeding Our Future fraud case. The prosecutors stepped down after the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced it would not open a constitutional investigation into the shooting—a departure from standard practice for fatal encounters involving federal agents.

“Six senior leaders in the Civil Rights Division unit that would normally investigate such a shooting accelerated their plans to resign and retire, partially to protest that decision.” —MS NOW, January 23, 2026

Four top officials in the Civil Rights Division also resigned earlier in the week, including leaders who would typically oversee investigations into officer-involved shootings. Harmeet Dhillon, the Trump administration’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, announced days after the shooting that her division would not investigate Ross’s conduct.

Administration Defends Shooting, Criticizes Investigators

Blanche has publicly stated there is “no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation” into the shooting. The Deputy Attorney General appeared on Fox News Sunday to defend the decision, saying the use of deadly force can sometimes be justified. Vice President JD Vance praised Ross’s service without naming him, stating the agent “deserves a debt of gratitude” and had been “assaulted” and “attacked” in the line of duty.

The Trump administration has characterized Good’s actions as “domestic terrorism” and accused her of attempting to run over Ross. However, video analysis by The New York Times showed no indication that Ross had been run over, and multiple angles suggest Good was attempting to drive away when Ross positioned himself in front of her vehicle and fired three shots at close range.

“The American people can watch this video with their own eyes and ears and judge for themselves.” —Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Spokesperson, January 2026

Broader Pattern of Political Pressure

The resignations in Minnesota appear part of a broader pattern of political pressure on federal law enforcement under the Trump administration. More than 100 prosecutors and career lawyers have resigned from the Justice Department since President Trump returned to office, according to a New York Times investigation, with many citing political interference and pressure to drop cases involving Trump’s allies.

The administration has also opened investigations into Minnesota officials who have criticized the ICE operation, including Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, issuing subpoenas to their offices as part of an inquiry into alleged conspiracy to impede federal immigration enforcement. Walz has called the investigation political, while Frey has described it as an intimidation tactic.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office now holds the sole remaining criminal investigation into Good’s death, though County Attorney Mary Moriarty has stated that federal authorities have taken key evidence including Good’s vehicle, Ross’s firearm, shell casings, and the agent’s cellphone—which he was using as a body-worn camera at the time of the shooting.

Will the exodus of experienced federal prosecutors and FBI agents compromise the integrity of future investigations into law enforcement misconduct?

Sources

This report was compiled using information from The New York Times’ reporting on Mergen’s resignation, CNN’s coverage of the FBI investigation, MS NOW’s investigation into DOJ warrant directives, The Spokesman-Review’s detailed account, KSTP’s local reporting, Just Security’s legal analysis, CBC News’ coverage of the federal investigation refusal, and Common Dreams’ reporting on the resignations.

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10