Scarborough Blasts DOJ Handling of Pretti Case: Stop Trying to Protect the Killer
Parents seek investigation details
At a Tuesday news conference, Michael and Susan Pretti said neither the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota nor the Justice Department had given them information they believe the law affords them. They said they still do not know the identities of the officers involved.
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was filming federal agents during an immigration operation in Minneapolis in January. Video shows agents tackling him, taking his gun and shooting him multiple times after he intervened when an officer pushed a woman to the ground.
Federal and state inquiries
The shooting prompted federal and state investigations. State and local officials say federal authorities stopped sharing evidence after initially providing some, and Hennepin County has sued the federal government to obtain access.
The Justice Department said investigators were following standard practice. It stated that communication with family members generally comes at later stages, such as an indictment, plea or trial, rather than during an investigation.
Scarborough calls for disclosure
On Wednesday’s “Morning Joe,” Scarborough accused the federal government of stonewalling. He urged officials to stop trying to protect the killer and said the public should know the officer’s name and the evidence.
Scarborough said the department could not make the parents or the country forget Pretti. He compared the situation to “Mississippi Burning,” saying the role of officials trying to cover up evidence had shifted from sheriffs in the film’s setting to Justice Department officials.
Key points
- Pretti’s parents say federal authorities have not shared basic information about the investigation.
- The Justice Department says family communications typically come at a later stage of a case.
- Scarborough called for the officer’s identity and the evidence to be made public.