DOJ Seeks to Drop Criminal Case Tied to Breonna Taylor Killing

The move comes after a federal judge twice downgraded the most serious charge against two former Louisville police officers.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:57am

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The U.S. Justice Department has moved to drop a criminal case against two former Louisville police officers who were accused of falsifying a search warrant that led to the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, a Black medical worker, in 2020. The DOJ said it no longer wanted to pursue the case following an internal review triggered by a federal judge's decision to downgrade the most serious charge.

Why it matters

Breonna Taylor's killing was a major catalyst for the racial justice protests that swept the country in 2020, and this decision by the DOJ under the Trump administration represents a reversal of efforts to hold the officers accountable. It raises questions about the priorities of the federal government in pursuing civil rights cases involving police misconduct.

The details

Joshua Jaynes, a former Louisville Police Department detective, and Kyle Meany, a former Louisville sergeant, were accused of depriving Taylor of her civil rights by making false and misleading statements on an affidavit used to justify the search of Taylor's home. They were not part of the team that executed the raid, but the indictment accused them of filing an affidavit despite knowing they did not have legal justification for the search. Both had pleaded not guilty.

  • Breonna Taylor was killed in March 2020 during a botched police raid.
  • The DOJ moved to drop the criminal case against the two former officers on March 20, 2026.

The players

Joshua Jaynes

A former Louisville Police Department detective who was accused of depriving Breonna Taylor of her civil rights.

Kyle Meany

A former Louisville police sergeant who was accused of depriving Breonna Taylor of her civil rights.

Breonna Taylor

A Black medical worker who was fatally shot by police during a botched raid on her home in 2020.

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What they’re saying

“Kyle is incredibly grateful for today's filing. He is looking forward to putting this matter behind him and moving forward with his life.”

— Michael Denbow, Lawyer for Kyle Meany

What’s next

A judge must approve the DOJ's request to dismiss the criminal case against the two former Louisville police officers.

The takeaway

This decision by the Trump DOJ to drop the criminal case against the officers involved in Breonna Taylor's killing represents a significant setback in the pursuit of accountability for her death, which galvanized the racial justice movement in 2020. It raises concerns about the federal government's commitment to civil rights and police misconduct cases under the new administration.