Fact Check: Did DOJ Civil Rights members resign in protest over Renee Nicole Good’s death case?
WASHINGTON, DC: The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, 37, in Minneapolis last week sent shockwaves across the country, and many people also criticized the Department of Justice (DOJ) for accusing Good of trying to 'weaponize' her vehicle against the ICE officer who shot her.
Recently, there was a report by MS NOW alleging that top DOJ officials quit their jobs over an alleged division decision not to investigate the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good. But is there any truth to this report? Let us find out below.
Claim: Justice Department undergoes 'mass resignation' over ICE shooting of Renee Good
The report from MS NOW, formerly known as MSNBC, alleged that at least six officials from the Civil Rights Division resigned 'in protest over the administration’s handling' of Renee Good’s death, citing 'three people briefed on the departures.'
The outlet reported that the top officials left their jobs to register their frustration with the department after the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon decided not to investigate the ICE officer’s fatal shooting.
MS NOW's report also mentioned that the departures represent the most significant mass resignation at the Justice Department since February 2025.
The outlet mentioned that one source briefed on the reasoning for the resignations, saying the handling of the ICE shooting was not the only concern for the unit leaders and that some were concerned about other decisions by division leadership.
Fact Check: Harmeet Dhillon calls it 'Fake News'
The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said that there is no merit to the MS Now report alleging that top DOJ officials quit their jobs over an alleged division decision not to investigate the shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
Harmeet Dhillon and her staff claimed that there has not been a single resignation over the incident. She told The Daily Wire, "This is fake news. No division employee quit."
Dhillon said three people applied for early retirement the day before the shooting, and those three people gave notice weeks before the shooting took place. The fourth person mentioned put in for retirement in early December 2025, over a month before the incident.
Similarly, The Daily Wire also reported that two of the other people that the MS Now report references have not resigned and are currently at their desks working.
However, Dhillon said that they have 'apparently told the press they intend to resign' but 'our office has not received notice of any resignations.'
Dhillon told The Daily Wire, "The media’s never-ending attempts to drum up drama and strife within the DOJ are exhausting. My team and I will not let it distract us from our mission of protecting the civil rights of ALL Americans. We thank those employees retiring for their years of service to the Department and our nation."
DOJ says there is no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation
The Justice Department said on Tuesday, January 13, that it sees no current basis to open a criminal investigation under federal law into the deadly shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly said that the DOJ does not believe the circumstances of the January 7 shooting meet the threshold for such an inquiry.
Meanwhile, Federal authorities have placed the FBI in sole charge of the probe, and have limited the involvement of Minnesota law enforcement agencies that had initially been part of the investigation.
