Minnesota Sues Feds Over Evidence in Deaths

0:00On March 24, Minnesota has filed a new lawsuit against the Justice Department and Homeland Security over access to evidence in the deaths of two. Americans, the move ramps up the states dispute with the Trump administration, which refused to join a joint investigation into the cases. Earlier this year, a federal judge in Minnesota turned down the state's request to halt the federal probe. That effort stalled in February, so officials dropped it and refiled in a Washington court. State leaders argue they have the main duty to investigate and prosecute violence within their borders, like homicides and assaults. They claim federal agents grabbed all the evidence and blocked investigators from key details. The filing accuses the administration of overreaching, violating state rights, and delaying information sharing. A federal judge did briefly order evidence preservation in January, but lifted it soon after. Meanwhile, the Justice Department launched a civil rights review into one of the deaths for possible excessive force, though nothing similar for the other. As the legal fight drags on, Minnesota presses for a bigger role in uncovering what happened.