Tim Walz wanted US Attorney fired over Somali fraud investigation—now praises him after quitting over ICE shooting

In a stunning reversal, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz praised US Attorney Joseph Thompson as a "principled public servant" following his resignation, just weeks after suggesting Thompson should be fired for his comments on the widespread fraud he uncovered in state programs. Thompson resigned along with five other federal prosecutors on Tuesday. It's unclear why he resigned, but it comes amid reports that Trump's Department of Justice was pressuring the US Attorney's Office to investigate Becca Good, the widow of Renee Good, who was fatally shot last week by an ICE agent after accelerating her vehicle at him while impeding immigration enforcement operations.

"Joe is a principled public servant who spent more than a decade achieving justice for Minnesotans. This is a huge loss for our state," Walz wrote in a post on X. "It's also the latest sign Trump is pushing nonpartisan career professionals out of the justice department, replacing them with his sycophants."

The praise is a stark contrast to Walz's remarks during a December 19, 2025, press conference, where he criticized Thompson's estimate that fraud in Minnesota's Medicaid waiver programs could exceed $9 billion—potentially half of the $18 billion disbursed since 2018. Walz called the figure "sensationalized" and accused Thompson of "speculating about things with no factual information," adding that such statements amounted to "defamation."

Thompson's team has indicted over 90 individuals and secured more than 60 convictions in fraud cases, many involving Somali-American communities and programs like child nutrition and autism services. Critics, predominantly Republican lawmakers, have blamed Walz's administration for lax oversight, leading to calls for the governor's resignation.

The resignations follow a January 7 incident in which Renee Good, 38, was killed after ramming her vehicle into ICE agent Jonathan Ross during an unlawful protest against immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. Becca Good, Renee's wife, was present, filming the event and reportedly taunting officers. The couple is tied to the leftist activist group Minnesota ICE Watch.

Sources told The Post Millennial that the DOJ sought to probe Becca Good's actions on the day of the shooting and her connections to "militant far-left groups" involved in training to disrupt ICE operations. Thompson reportedly objected to the investigation, viewing it as politically motivated, and also opposed the FBI's lead role in the shooting probe while excluding state agencies.

The Trump administration has defended the DOJ's actions, framing them as a part of broader efforts to combat fraud and ensure public safety.