Exodus of Minnesota Prosecutors Leads to Dropped Cases

Turmoil in U.S. Attorney's Office results in some defendants avoiding accountability

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The federal prosecutor's office in Minnesota has been gutted by a wave of career officials resigning or retiring over objections to Trump administration directives, leading to the dismissal of cases against several defendants, including a 12-time convicted felon with a history of violent crime.

Why it matters

The exodus of experienced prosecutors has greatly weakened the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota, raising concerns that the office will be unable to bring charges against some of the state's most serious offenders. This could result in dangerous criminals avoiding accountability and posing a threat to public safety.

The details

With more than 40 assistant U.S. attorneys before Trump took office, the Minnesota office has dwindled to fewer than two dozen. The exodus began as prosecutors 'saw the writing on the wall' that their jobs and the government's definition of justice would change under the new administration. It accelerated after Trump appointees intervened to block a joint state-federal investigation into a fatal shooting by an ICE officer, and prosecutors objected to directives to divert resources to immigration cases and ICE's repeated violations of court orders. As experienced attorneys have left, the office has been forced to dismiss some cases, delay others, and seek plea agreements, allowing defendants like 12-time convicted felon Cory Allen McKay to walk free.

  • In 2024, FedEx employees in Fargo, North Dakota, discovered a package containing nearly 10 pounds of highly pure meth addressed to Cory Allen McKay.
  • In May 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging McKay with two methamphetamine distribution charges.
  • Last month, the U.S. Attorney's Office noted that the prosecutor on McKay's case, Thomas Hollenhorst, was 'retiring unexpectedly' and asked for a delay in the trial.
  • Days later, the office dropped the case against McKay, and a judge ordered his immediate release on January 31, 2026.

The players

Cory Allen McKay

A 47-year-old man with a three-decade record of violent crime, including strangling a pregnant woman and firing a shotgun under a person's chin, who was scheduled to stand trial on methamphetamine trafficking charges that could have locked him up for 25 years.

Thomas Hollenhorst

A longtime assistant U.S. Attorney who argued that McKay was too dangerous to be released before trial, even to a substance abuse program, due to his history of violence.

Jean Brandl

McKay's lawyer, who said the outcome was a victory for her client but that Hollenhorst's retirement after 40 years with the Justice Department was 'a huge loss'.

Daniel Rosen

The Trump appointee leading the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota.

John Marti

A Minneapolis lawyer who was a longtime fraud prosecutor in the office until 2015, who said the result of the exodus will be 'a diminished ability to target dangerous fraudsters, sexual predators, violent gangs and drug traffickers'.

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What they’re saying

“This was completely surprising to me.”

— Jean Brandl, McKay's lawyer

“He was a very good prosecutor. He was reasonable and saw our clients as human beings, not just numbers.”

— Jean Brandl, McKay's lawyer

“With everybody leaving there, it's presenting some challenges for everyone around the state. Hopefully they are going to rebuild the office and take these cases on again.”

— Mark Empting, Clay County Sheriff

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Cory Allen McKay to remain out on bail.

The takeaway

The exodus of experienced prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota has led to the dismissal of cases against dangerous criminals, raising concerns about public safety and the office's ability to hold the most serious offenders accountable. This highlights the potential consequences of political pressure and the politicization of the justice system.