DOJ Moves to Drop Charges in Breonna Taylor Case

Two officers accused of falsifying warrant may be in the clear

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:07am

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Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to dismiss all charges against former Louisville police officers Kyle Meany and Joshua Jaynes, who were accused of falsifying information on the warrant used in the 2020 raid that ended with Breonna Taylor's death. Judges have previously reduced the most serious felony counts to misdemeanors, ruling there wasn't a direct legal link between the allegedly false warrant and Taylor's death.

Why it matters

The Breonna Taylor case has been a high-profile example of racial injustice and police violence, sparking nationwide protests. The DOJ's move to drop charges against the officers involved raises questions about accountability and whether justice will be served for Taylor's family.

The details

Meany and Jaynes were charged in 2022 under the Biden administration's Justice Department with falsifying information on the warrant used in the raid. However, judges have since ruled there wasn't a direct legal link between the allegedly false warrant and Taylor's death, pointing instead to the chaotic nature of the raid. Jaynes was fired in 2021 for allegedly lying on the warrant affidavit, while Meany was fired in 2022 after his federal indictment. Another former officer, Brett Hankison, was convicted of civil-rights violations and sentenced to 33 months, but was released pending appeal after the DOJ supported his release. A fourth ex-officer, Kelly Goodlett, previously pleaded guilty to helping falsify the warrant affidavit and has yet to be sentenced.

  • The raid that ended with Breonna Taylor's death occurred in 2020.
  • Jaynes was fired in 2021 for allegedly lying on the warrant affidavit.
  • Meany was fired in 2022 after his federal indictment over the same allegation.
  • Hankison was convicted in 2022 and sentenced to 33 months, but was released pending appeal after the DOJ supported his release.
  • Goodlett previously pleaded guilty to helping falsify the warrant affidavit and has yet to be sentenced.

The players

Kyle Meany

A former Louisville police officer who was accused of falsifying information on the warrant used in the Breonna Taylor raid.

Joshua Jaynes

A former Louisville police officer who was accused of falsifying information on the warrant used in the Breonna Taylor raid.

Brett Hankison

A former Louisville police officer who was convicted of civil-rights violations for his actions during the Breonna Taylor raid.

Kelly Goodlett

A former Louisville police officer who pleaded guilty to helping falsify the warrant affidavit in the Breonna Taylor case.

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What’s next

The judge will decide whether to grant the DOJ's request to dismiss the charges against Meany and Jaynes.

The takeaway

The DOJ's move to drop charges against the officers involved in the Breonna Taylor case raises concerns about accountability and whether justice will be served for her family, as the case has become a symbol of racial injustice and police violence.