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Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
DA probed by Trump for plea deals based on race
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty is facing a federal civil rights investigation over her new plea deal policy, which explicitly directs prosecutors to factor in race when considering offers for criminal defendants . Less than a week after Moriarty's office implemented the changes, the Department of Justice announced it was launching an inquiry into whether the policy violates the Constitution. The investigation is being led by Trump-era appointees who argue the guidelines may unlawfully treat people differently based on race. Moriarty (pictured) - who has been dubbed the country's most woke DA - is a progressive former public defender who campaigned on racial equity and criminal justice reform. Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon made the announcement Saturday. 'This letter is to inform you that the Department of Justice is opening an investigation to determine whether the Hennepin County Attorney's Office (HCAO) is engaged in a pattern or practice of depriving persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States,' she wrote. 'While racial identity and age are not appropriate grounds for departures [from the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines], proposed resolutions should consider the person charged as a whole person, including their racial identity and age,' the policy states. 'While these factors should not be controlling, they should be part of the overall analysis. 'Racial disparities harm our community, lead to distrust, and have a negative impact on community safety. 'Prosecutors should be identifying and addressing racial disparities at decision points, as appropriate.' Moriarty, who took office in 2023 after winning a highly polarized election, has positioned herself as a reformer eager to disrupt traditional prosecutorial practices — including how plea deals are offered. She previously made headlines for declining to charge certain juvenile suspects in high-profile cases, sparking outrage from police unions and some community members. Supporters say Moriarty's approach is long overdue in a system plagued by racial inequities. But critics argue the new plea policy goes too far, replacing equal justice with identity-based leniency that could violate civil rights protections. 'Lady Justice is blindfolded for a reason,' Dhillon wrote on X . 'Under the leadership of @AGPamBondi and her team, @TheJusticeDept lawyers will investigate and take action wherever necessary to identify government practices that may run afoul of our civil rights norms.' The probe marks a sharp clash between federal civil rights enforcement under conservative leadership and local progressive prosecutors who argue that colorblind policies perpetuate racial injustice. It also signals the DOJ's willingness to take on local jurisdictions where reforms are seen as ideologically extreme. Moriarty has not personally commented on the investigation. However, her office issued a brief statement. 'We are aware of the letter from the Department of Justice posted to social media but have not received it,' HCAO spokesperson Daniel Borgertpoepping told KARE 11 News. 'Our office will cooperate with any resulting investigation and we're fully confident our policy complies with the law.' The case is likely to become a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over race, justice, and the future of progressive prosecution. In April, Moriarty was accused of flouting her own rules to ensure a Minnesota state worker walked free after keying six Teslas. Her office revealed that they dropped charges against 33-year-old Dylan Bryan Adams after he reportedly admitted to causing around $21,000 in damage s during four separate incidents. Adams will instead be entered into an adult diversion program for first-time, low-level offenders, which could even allow him to keep his job as a is a program consultant at the state's Department of Human Services. Even the liberal-leaning Minnesota Star Tribune has slammed Moriarty's decision in an op-ed where they note her own office's policy, which says that diversion is only meant for property crimes of less than $5,000. Bryan - whose ultimate boss is Minnesota's Democrat Governor Tim Walz - caused more than four times that amount of damage but won't even have a conviction to his name. 'Moriarty either ignored it or bent it to fit a narrative,' columnist Brandi Bennet wrote. 'Either way, the public is left wondering: What exactly are the rules in Hennepin County, and who are they written to protect?' Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Visit our profile page and hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
America's wokest DA probed by Trump for offering plea deals on the basis of race
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty is facing a federal civil rights investigation over her new plea deal policy, which explicitly directs prosecutors to factor in race when considering offers for criminal defendants. Less than a week after Moriarty's office implemented the changes, the Department of Justice announced it was launching an inquiry into whether the policy violates the Constitution. The investigation is being led by Trump-era appointees who argue the guidelines may unlawfully treat people differently based on race. Moriarty - who has been dubbed the country's most woke DA - is a progressive former public defender who campaigned on racial equity and criminal justice reform. Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon made the announcement Saturday. 'This letter is to inform you that the Department of Justice is opening an investigation to determine whether the Hennepin County Attorney's Office (HCAO) is engaged in a pattern or practice of depriving persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States,' she wrote. The memo at the center of the firestorm — titled Negotiations Policy for Cases Involving Adult Defendants — was quietly distributed inside the HCAO and first obtained by local NBC affiliate KARE 11. It lays out a series of new priorities for prosecutors, including guidance to consider a defendant's age, immigration status, employment, housing, and access to student financial aid. But the most contentious provision is the one that directly addresses race. 'While racial identity and age are not appropriate grounds for departures [from the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines], proposed resolutions should consider the person charged as a whole person, including their racial identity and age,' the policy states. 'While these factors should not be controlling, they should be part of the overall analysis. 'Racial disparities harm our community, lead to distrust, and have a negative impact on community safety. 'Prosecutors should be identifying and addressing racial disparities at decision points, as appropriate.' Moriarty, who took office in 2023 after winning a highly polarized election, has positioned herself as a reformer eager to disrupt traditional prosecutorial practices — including how plea deals are offered. She previously made headlines for declining to charge certain juvenile suspects in high-profile cases, sparking outrage from police unions and some community members. Supporters say Moriarty's approach is long overdue in a system plagued by racial inequities. But critics argue the new plea policy goes too far, replacing equal justice with identity-based leniency that could violate civil rights protections. 'Lady Justice is blindfolded for a reason,' Dhillon wrote on X. 'Under the leadership of @AGPamBondi and her team, @TheJusticeDept lawyers will investigate and take action wherever necessary to identify government practices that may run afoul of our civil rights norms.' The probe marks a sharp clash between federal civil rights enforcement under conservative leadership and local progressive prosecutors who argue that colorblind policies perpetuate racial injustice. It also signals the DOJ's willingness to take on local jurisdictions where reforms are seen as ideologically extreme. Moriarty has not personally commented on the investigation. However, her office issued a brief statement. 'We are aware of the letter from the Department of Justice posted to social media but have not received it,' HCAO spokesperson Daniel Borgertpoepping told KARE 11 News. 'Our office will cooperate with any resulting investigation and we're fully confident our policy complies with the law.' The case is likely to become a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over race, justice, and the future of progressive prosecution. In April, Moriarty was accused of flouting her own rules to ensure a Minnesota state worker walked free after keying six Teslas. Her office revealed that they dropped charges against 33-year-old Dylan Bryan Adams after he reportedly admitted to causing around $21,000 in damage s during four separate incidents. Adams will instead be entered into an adult diversion program for first-time, low-level offenders, which could even allow him to keep his job as a is a program consultant at the state's Department of Human Services. Even the liberal-leaning Minnesota Star Tribune has slammed Moriarty's decision in an op-ed where they note her own office's policy, which says that diversion is only meant for property crimes of less than $5,000. Bryan - whose ultimate boss is Minnesota's Democrat Governor Tim Walz - caused more than four times that amount of damage but won't even have a conviction to his name. 'Moriarty either ignored it or bent it to fit a narrative,' columnist Brandi Bennet wrote. 'Either way, the public is left wondering: What exactly are the rules in Hennepin County, and who are they written to protect?'
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Left-wing DA forcing prosecutors to consider 'racial identity' in plea deals
Prosecutors in a left-wing Minnesota county attorney's office will be required to consider defendants' race when crafting plea deals, according to a local report citing internal documents. The office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, which recently let a Democrat-connected alleged Tesla vandal off with a slap on the wrist, issued the internal document "Negotiations Policy for Cases Involving Adult Defendants." It directs prosecutors to consider "racial identity and age" as they negotiate plea deals, local Minnestota outlet KARE 11 first reported last week. "While racial identity and age are not appropriate grounds for departures [from the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines], proposed resolutions should consider the person charged as a whole person, including their racial identity and age," the internal document states, according to the outlet. "While these factors should not be controlling, they should be part of the overall analysis. Racial disparities harm our community, lead to distrust, and have a negative impact on community safety. Prosecutors should be identifying and addressing racial disparities at decision points, as appropriate," it continues. String Of Plea Deals From Minneapolis Da Outrages Families Of Victims, Draws Concern From Legal Experts The policy changes are set to take effect on April 28, according to the outlet. Hennepin County encompasses the city of Minneapolis and is the most populous county in the Democrat-run state. Read On The Fox News App The "Negotiations Policy for Cases Involving Adult Defendants" began circulating in the county attorney's office last week, KARE 11 reported. Fox News Digital reached out to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office on Sunday morning regarding the policy update, motivation behind the internal document and whether there are any concerns over the constitutionality of the changes, and is awaiting a response. The reported plea deal policy comes with constitutionality issues, according to KARE 11, which spoke to local attorneys to weigh in on the change. Soros Prosecutor Ripped For Failing To Charge Walz Staffer Over Tesla Vandalism: 'Two-tiered Justice System' "It both says, 'Don't take race into account,' presumably because of the constitutional problems with taking race into account in addition to potentially political objections, but it simultaneously says this is something you should consider," Jill Hasday, a University of Minnesota law professor, told the outlet. "And the problem for the drafters of this policy is, once you take race into account, it doesn't really matter what else you say. The policy is going to be struck down." Another local attorney brushed off constitutionality concerns, saying that county prosecutors are directed to steer clear of racial disparities, not create them. "I definitely think that some people will get worked up about the issue, but I don't see a constitutional problem, and that's specifically because the policy tells prosecutors to avoid racial disparities. Not to create them," University of St. Thomas law professor Rachel Moran told the outlet. The Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution requires states to govern impartially, meaning that states and official government actions cannot discriminate or treat individuals differently based on characteristics such as race. Walz Staffer Accused Of Vandalizing Teslas Might Not Face Charges: Report "Our sentencing guidelines that criminal justice professionals use every single day in court say that race should not be used in that calculus. This seems to contradict our sentencing guidelines," former Washington County, Minnesota, prosecutor Imran Ali told the outlet. "It's inconsistent not only with our sentencing guidelines, but the policy in and of itself is inconsistent." The county attorney's office told KARE 11 that race is an important factor to consider during plea deal negotiations "because we know unaddressed unconscious biases lead to racial disparities." "This policy acknowledges that there are many factors to be considered in negotiations. Each case – and defendant – is unique. Someone's age may change the likelihood of growth and change. A defendant's race matters because we know unaddressed unconscious biases lead to racial disparities, which is an unacceptable outcome," the office told the outlet. Number Of Tesla Attacks Soars Past 50 As Violence Targeting Musk's Company Escalates "Our goal with this policy matches the goal of all our work: to achieve safe, equitable, and just outcomes that center the healing of victims while improving public safety," the office continued. Fox News Digital previously reported that Moriarty has been backed by groups tied to money from liberal mega-donor George Soros, who has helped to install scores of soft-on-crime local prosecutors around the nation. She was first elected to the role in 2022 after working for more than two decades as a public defender in the county. Moriarty most recently made national headlines last week when her office bucked criminally charging a Minnesota state employee suspected of vandalizing six Tesla vehicles and causing $20,000 in damages. Instead, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office said it would seek "diversion" over charges against Minnesota Department of Human Services data analyst Dylan Bryan Adams. The diversion approach "helps to ensure the individual keeps their job and can pay restitution," according to the office. Teslas around the country have been targeted for vandalism as its CEO Elon Musk heads up President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, which has been auditing various federal agencies for government overspending, fraud and mismanagement. Moriarty and her office also came under fire in October of 2023, when families of murder victims slammed a string of plea deals that had been offered to murder defendants, sparing them time behind bars, Fox News Digital previously reported. Fox News Digital's Deirdre Heavey and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report. Original article source: Left-wing DA forcing prosecutors to consider 'racial identity' in plea deals
Fox News
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Left-wing DA forcing prosecutors to consider 'racial identity' in plea deals
Prosecutors in a left-wing Minnesota county attorney's office will be required to consider defendants' race when crafting plea deals, according to a local report citing internal documents. The office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, which recently let a Democrat-connected alleged Tesla vandal off with a slap on the wrist, issued the internal document "Negotiations Policy for Cases Involving Adult Defendants." It directs prosecutors to consider "racial identity and age" as they negotiate plea deals, local Minnestota outlet KARE 11 first reported last week. "While racial identity and age are not appropriate grounds for departures [from the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines], proposed resolutions should consider the person charged as a whole person, including their racial identity and age," the internal document states, according to the outlet. "While these factors should not be controlling, they should be part of the overall analysis. Racial disparities harm our community, lead to distrust, and have a negative impact on community safety. Prosecutors should be identifying and addressing racial disparities at decision points, as appropriate," it continues. The policy changes are set to take effect on April 28, according to the outlet. Hennepin County encompasses the city of Minneapolis and is the most populous county in the Democrat-run state. The "Negotiations Policy for Cases Involving Adult Defendants" began circulating in the county attorney's office last week, KARE 11 reported. Fox News Digital reached out to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office on Sunday morning regarding the policy update, motivation behind the internal document and whether there are any concerns over the constitutionality of the changes, and is awaiting a response. The reported plea deal policy comes with constitutionality issues, according to KARE 11, which spoke to local attorneys to weigh in on the change. "It both says, 'Don't take race into account,' presumably because of the constitutional problems with taking race into account in addition to potentially political objections, but it simultaneously says this is something you should consider," Jill Hasday, a University of Minnesota law professor, told the outlet. "And the problem for the drafters of this policy is, once you take race into account, it doesn't really matter what else you say. The policy is going to be struck down." Another local attorney brushed off constitutionality concerns, saying that county prosecutors are directed to steer clear of racial disparities, not create them. "I definitely think that some people will get worked up about the issue, but I don't see a constitutional problem, and that's specifically because the policy tells prosecutors to avoid racial disparities. Not to create them," University of St. Thomas law professor Rachel Moran told the outlet. The Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution requires states to govern impartially, meaning that states and official government actions cannot discriminate or treat individuals differently based on characteristics such as race. "Our sentencing guidelines that criminal justice professionals use every single day in court say that race should not be used in that calculus. This seems to contradict our sentencing guidelines," former Washington County, Minnesota, prosecutor Imran Ali told the outlet. "It's inconsistent not only with our sentencing guidelines, but the policy in and of itself is inconsistent." The county attorney's office told KARE 11 that race is an important factor to consider during plea deal negotiations "because we know unaddressed unconscious biases lead to racial disparities." "This policy acknowledges that there are many factors to be considered in negotiations. Each case – and defendant – is unique. Someone's age may change the likelihood of growth and change. A defendant's race matters because we know unaddressed unconscious biases lead to racial disparities, which is an unacceptable outcome," the office told the outlet. "Our goal with this policy matches the goal of all our work: to achieve safe, equitable, and just outcomes that center the healing of victims while improving public safety," the office continued. Fox News Digital previously reported that Moriarty has been backed by groups tied to money from liberal mega-donor George Soros, who has helped to install scores of soft-on-crime local prosecutors around the nation. She was first elected to the role in 2022 after working for more than two decades as a public defender in the county. Moriarty most recently made national headlines last week when her office bucked criminally charging a Minnesota state employee suspected of vandalizing six Tesla vehicles and causing $20,000 in damages. Instead, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office said it would seek "diversion" over charges against Minnesota Department of Human Services data analyst Dylan Bryan Adams. The diversion approach "helps to ensure the individual keeps their job and can pay restitution," according to the office. Teslas around the country have been targeted for vandalism as its CEO Elon Musk heads up President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, which has been auditing various federal agencies for government overspending, fraud and mismanagement. Moriarty and her office also came under fire in October of 2023, when families of murder victims slammed a string of plea deals that had been offered to murder defendants, sparing them time behind bars, Fox News Digital previously reported.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Yahoo
Mother who drowned baby in bathtub sentenced to over 30 years in prison
A 21-year-old woman who drowned her baby in a Bloomington hotel bathtub before throwing his body in a dumpster has been sentenced to over 30 years in prison. Esperanza Harding has been sentenced to 32 years (384 months) in prison after she was convicted on one count of 2nd-degree intentional murder in the death of eight-month-old Mateo Harding. The sentence is an upward departure from the presumptive sentence under the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines, according to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. Harding previously entered a guilty plea on Dec. 20, 2024. Harding has 366 days of credit for time served. Harding's co-defendant in the case, 19-year-old Edwin Trudeau, also entered a guilty plea to aiding an offender, accomplice after the fact on Feb. 24. He's scheduled to be sentenced in early May. After initially claiming to police that her child died at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, Harding later admitted the baby died at the hotel on Feb. 28, 2024, according to a criminal complaint. In a subsequent interview with Bloomington police, Harding said she was dating Trudeau, "who did not like her child" and wanted her to give him up for adoption. After she had drowned the child, she texted Trudeau, describing herself as "a monster for what she had done" and asking him "how to get away with it." Per the court documents, Harding told investigators that she packed the body in a backpack and threw him into a dumpster in the hotel parking lot. "My thoughts are with Mateo's family today," Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. "This was a heartbreaking case and while Ms. Harding is being held accountable, it does not return Mateo to his family or offer him the life he should have had the chance to live."
