Trump administration dismisses police investigations in several cities, including Minneapolis
The Justice Department is backing away from cases against police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky, reversing course on the use of consent decrees to help ensure accountability for law enforcement agencies.
The move comes only days before the anniversary of the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota nearly five years ago by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer. Chauvin was captured on video pressing his knee onto Floyd’s neck for more than 9 minutes as Floyd lay on the pavement face-down and handcuffed. The killing of Floyd, a Black man, incited protests across the country against police brutality and racial injustice.
Chauvin was later convicted on murder and federal civil rights charges.
Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, announced the plan to dismiss the lawsuits and retract findings by the Biden Justice Department about alleged constitutional violations by police.
Dhillon told reporters Wednesday the timing of the move had nothing to do with the solemn anniversary of Floyd’s death, but rather looming deadlines in court cases.
“Today, we are ending the Biden Civil Rights Division’s failed experiment of handcuffing local leaders and police departments with factually unjustified consent decrees,” Dhillon said in a written statement.
She said those sweeping deals amounted to “micromanagement” of local police, that would carry a pricetag of potentially millions of dollars in compliance.
The Justice Department said it would also close investigations of police in six other jurisdictions:
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Trenton, New Jersey
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Mount Vernon, New York
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Louisiana State Police
Dhillon said she is confident the vast majority of police officers and departments act in line with the law. But when they fail to do so, DOJ said, it will “take all necessary action” to respond to civil rights and constitutional violations, including criminal prosecutions.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Indian authorities begin investigating Air India crash in which 1 passenger survived
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is investigating the crash with help from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Authorities said Friday that the black box has been recovered.
Oil prices jump and stocks tumble following Israel’s attack on Iran
Israel's attack on Iran sparked the biggest jump in crude oil prices since Russia's invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago. Stocks fell sharply.
‘I just walked out’: The sole survivor of the Air India crash shares his story
Viswashkumar Ramesh was on his way home to London when tragedy struck. In hospital interviews, he explains how he made his way out of seat 11A — which isn't typically the safest part of the plane.
Sean Combs’ ex describes relationship marked by ‘manipulation’: ‘I couldn’t say no’
The woman who dated Combs until his arrest described the relationship in complex terms — traumatic but sometimes loving — and seemed to be working through her feelings about it on the witness stand.
A 2nd judge halts more of Trump’s voting executive order
More than a month after a federal judge halted a key portion of President Trump's executive order on voting, another judge has ruled that additional provisions of the order need to pause as well.
Why did Israel strike Iran? An Israeli politician and a US-Iran expert weigh in
NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon about his country's strikes.
