DOJ Launches Civil Rights Probe Into Minneapolis DA Over Race-Based Plea Deal Policy

The Justice Department has launched a civil rights probe into the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, scrutinizing a new policy that urges prosecutors to factor in race when negotiating plea deals. This move comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi, along with top DOJ officials Chad Mizelle and Harmeet Dhillon, notified County Attorney Mary Moriarty of the investigation in a letter, expressing concern over potential constitutional violations.

The DOJ's letter, dated May 2, points to Moriarty’s recently adopted policy for adult defendants, which instructs prosecutors to consider "racial identity" as part of their plea bargain analysis and to actively address racial disparities at decision-making points. The department is now investigating whether this directive crosses a legal line by making race an illegal consideration in prosecutorial decisions.

The letter, shared publicly by Dhillon, makes it clear: a full-scale investigation is underway to determine if the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has engaged in patterns or practices that deprive people of rights protected under the Constitution or federal law. Despite the hefty language, the DOJ emphasized it hasn’t drawn any conclusions yet and is seeking full cooperation from Moriarty and her team.

For those keeping score, Mary Moriarty is no stranger to controversy. Elected in the wake of George Floyd’s death and the resulting wave of progressive prosecutors, she promised sweeping reforms—including holding police accountable and reducing incarceration. With support from progressive groups (and some well-documented Soros funding), she made big waves but has also faced fierce backlash for seeking lighter sentences in some violent crime cases and prioritizing diversion programs over jail time. Even some of her original supporters are now asking: Is this what they signed up for?

Her tenure has been anything but dull. Moriarty charged a White state trooper for killing a Black man, only to later drop the charges, sparking outrage from local police and officials. More recently, she drew Republican ire for declining to prosecute a staffer accused of vandalizing Teslas—a crime the Trump administration once labeled as "domestic terrorism." In Minnesota politics, if you’re not making headlines, you’re doing it wrong, apparently.

The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division will now comb through Hennepin County’s policies and practices, aiming to set up a meeting with Moriarty soon to define the scope of their investigation. With all eyes on Minneapolis yet again, it’s anyone’s guess how this saga ends, but one thing’s for sure—this is not your average plea bargain debate.