SACRAMENTO, Calif. (FOX26) — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom issued a bulletin on Tuesday, reminding state and local law enforcement of their right to investigate potential state law crimes committed by federal agents.
They issued the bulletin in response to the federal government’s refusal to cooperate with state and local investigations into two recent federal officer-involved shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota.
The California Department of Justice is prepared to support state and local law enforcement in asserting their rights to access potential crime scenes and evidence relevant to active investigations of potential state law crimes.
“Trump Administration officials have repeatedly lied to the American people,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Given what has happened in Minnesota, we cannot outsource our fundamental duty to protect Californians by simply accepting federal narratives. Especially when a fatal shooting occurs, no one should be allowed to rush in, seize evidence, and control the narrative before state and local law enforcement have lawful access. Concerns that the federal government was doing exactly that in obstructing Minnesota state and local law enforcement investigations into the tragic killing of a 37-year-old VA nurse prompted a Trump-appointed judge to order the Trump Administration not to destroy evidence relevant to the investigation. Our local and state law enforcement are the front line for ensuring due process and public trust. Every state and local agency must remember its role, exercise its full authority, and always ensure the protection of the people of this state.”
Transparency isn’t a talking point; it’s a legal and moral requirement.
“California stands ready to take all necessary steps to investigate potentially unlawful conduct by federal agents that occurs on our soil, and where the facts warrant, file charges for violations of the California Penal Code,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Let there be no question: State and local law enforcement in California have authority to investigate potential violations of state law, even when those violations are committed by federal agents. Federal courts have long recognized that federal agents do not have absolute immunity from state law prosecution. Any assertions to the contrary are untrue — and deeply damaging to public trust and the integrity of our justice system. While federal and state law enforcement have long collaborated on investigations that result in both federal and state criminal charges, unfortunately, as recent events in Minnesota have made clear, cooperation in the conduct of such investigations can no longer be expected from the federal government.”
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This reality does not change our responsibility to conduct a thorough, independent investigation of potential state law crimes, and I promise that my office will do just that.