Hennepin County Launches Probe into Federal Agents' Unlawful Actions During Border Operations Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Monday that her office is investigating 17 instances of “potential unlawful behavior” by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge, including the use of a chemical irritant by U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino. The probe, part of a new Transparency and Accountability Project [TAP], allows citizens to submit evidence of alleged misconduct by federal law enforcement to the county attorney’s office. The initiative, staffed by county prosecutors and a civilian investigator, is already examining the 17 cases, which include actions by Border Patrol and ICE agents. Moriarty highlighted two specific incidents under investigation: Bovino’s use of a chemical irritant near Mueller Park on January 21 and the actions of federal agents against students at Minneapolis Roosevelt High School on January 7. She emphasized that privacy concerns prevent her office from disclosing all 17 cases, but she confirmed that the TAP is actively reviewing these events. “There are many victims whose stories need to be told,” Moriarty said, adding that her office will pursue charges where appropriate. The investigation into Bovino’s actions includes footage of him shouting, “Third warning. Gas, gas, gas,” before releasing a canister that produced green and gray smoke. Protesters and bystanders fled the scene, with some reporting being sprayed with orange substance and leaving green stains in the snow. Moriarty noted that the federal government has refused to provide information about the actions of its officers in Minnesota, complicating the investigation.#hennepin_county #mary_moriarty #operation_metropolitan_surge #minneapolis_roosevelt_high_school #tap_project
