Minnesota Congressional Delegation Calls for Hearing on Hennepin County Attorney’s Handling of State Trooper Murder Case

(KNSI) — Some Minnesota congressional delegation members have sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee Chairman and a ranking member requesting a hearing investigating the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

Congresswoman Fischbach (MN-07) led Minnesota Republicans Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06), Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), and Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) in crafting the letter specifically requesting an investigation into the charges brought against Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan.

County Attorney Mary Moriarty charged Londregan with second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree manslaughter in connection to the shooting death of 33-year-old Ricky Cobb II. Cobb was accused of becoming uncooperative during a July 31st, 2023 traffic stop and trying to drive away. Squad car camera footage showed Londregan and another trooper appearing to be dragged along Interstate 94. Londregan said he shot Cobb in self-defense. Charging documents say Cobb wasn’t actively driving away from the scene, but rather, his foot came off the pedal, causing the Ford Fusion to lurch forward and the troopers to lose their footing before falling to the ground.

A use-of-force expert retained by the HCAO and others has said Londregan acted in accordance with his training, but Moriarty is accused of dismissing those conclusions and “cherry-picking evidence” to fit her narrative, which House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) says is anti-law enforcement. She also accused Moriarty of putting her personal bias ahead of the pursuit of facts and justice.

The letter says, “Last year, the Department of Justice published a report after carrying out an investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department, located in the same county. The developments of this case are concerning and point to a deliberate attempt to use the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office to target members of the law enforcement community. We believe that this is a flagrant example of a problem that your committee has been committed to exposing this Congress: the weaponization of government. We respectfully ask that your committee hold a hearing to examine this issue further.”

Republicans aren’t alone in asking for something to be done.

Democratic Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02) has asked the state leaders to take over or reassign the case, saying the way it has been handled has seriously damaged confidence in the state’s criminal justice process.

The delegation wrote a letter to Governor Tim Walz regarding Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s abuse of power, and making him aware they would request this of the House Judiciary Committee.

Congresswoman Fischbach’s office has yet to receive a response.

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