Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have unlawfully withheld evidence from a state investigation. The state is seeking records related to the fatal shootings of two men by Metro Transit police officers in separate incidents during the summer of 2024.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, claims the federal agencies have failed to comply with subpoenas issued by the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). The state board is investigating whether the officers involved should keep their licenses. The attorney general's office argues the federal refusal impedes a critical state-level police accountability process.
According to the court filing, the FBI and ATF possess investigative materials, including reports and interview transcripts, that are directly relevant to the POST board's review. The federal agencies have cited ongoing investigations as reason for non-disclosure. The state contends there is no legitimate basis for withholding the information from the licensing board.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities over transparency in police misconduct investigations. A hearing date for the lawsuit has not yet been set.
