State prosecutors say they are “the most effective tools to preserve democracy.”
District Attorney Larry Krasner is organizing a crew to advance his frequent vow to prosecute any federal law enforcement officials who commit crimes.
Krasner and eight other progressive prosecutors from across the country have founded a coalition with the aim of helping each other litigate such cases, and raising funds to counter the U.S. Justice Department’s efforts to quash them.
They hail from Minneapolis — where police and prosecutors are investigating the fatal shootings of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — and from cities and counties in Arizona, Texas and Virginia.
The group launched Wednesday and calls itself Fight Against Federal Overreach, or FAFO. That’s also the acronym for “F— around and find out,” a phrase Krasner often uses when he promises to prosecute rogue law enforcement officials or people seeking to interfere in elections.
The announcement follows widespread reports of alleged civil rights violations by ICE agents in Minneapolis and statements from the Trump administration that have raised doubts about the integrity of federal investigations of the shootings.
Vice President JD Vance said the agent who shot Renee Good was “protected by absolute immunity,” and federal officials have refused to cooperate with investigations by Minnesota officials into both shootings.
“We find ourselves in a moment when one of the most effective tools to try to preserve democracy in the United States is state prosecutors,” Krasner said during a virtual press conference for the new coalition. “Despite the misinformation you have heard from the mouth of the Vice President, we do have the ability to bring state criminal charges against federal officers and to prosecute those cases to conclusion.”
Krasner said it’s up to state and county prosecutors to prosecute federal officers for crimes such as homicide or illegally covering up misconduct. The latter could bring charges such as obstructing the administration of justice, tampering with evidence, perjury and false oaths, he said.
Vance’s claim of absolute immunity is “absolute nonsense,” Krasner said.
“There is a sliver of immunity that is not going to save people who disarm a suspect and then repeatedly shoot him in the back, from facing criminal charges,” he said.
