MINNEAPOLIS — Editor's note: The video above first aired on KARE 11 on March 19, 2024.
The family of Ricky Cobb II is pleading with Minnesota lawmakers to stay out of the murder case centered around Cobb, a 33-year-old Black man, who was killed by Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan during a traffic stop in 2023.
The office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty charged Londregan with second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault stemming from Cobb's July 2023 shooting death.
In a statement, the Cobb family's lawyers accused state leaders, including Gov. Tim Walz, of "trying to influence an active prosecution" by potentially reassigning the case from Moriarty, a request initially made by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officer's Association (MPPOA).
“This family has one ask: that this be treated like any other murder case. We call on Governor Walz to put justice before politics and let County Attorney Moriarty bring this prosecution without any further interference," the family's statement read, in part. "Reassigning this case would create a clear conflict of interests and removing it from the County Attorney should not be an option. Mr. Cobb’s family has suffered enough. They don’t deserve this too."
In a statement of their own posted to MPPOA's social media accounts, representatives claimed Moriarty "illustrates a dangerous pattern regarding police prosecutions."
"The MPPOA is not asking for special treatment in this case. We ask for honest prosecutors to evaluate the case. We ask for prosecutors who put facts ahead of politics. We ask for simple fairness," the statement read, in part.
Those who support the action to reassign the case argue Moriarty wasn't transparent in her initial investigation, choosing to charge Londregan despite her use-of-force expert's opinion that Londregan acted responsibly.
"In a case like this, transparency is king," Walz said to reporters at a press conference last week. "I listen to people, whether on health issues or law — I'm not a lawyer myself — but as a layman on this, why would you not listen to a use-of-force expert? Why would that not be central to something you would do?"
In response to the governor's remarks, Democratic Rep. Angie Craig (CD2) supported the notion to reassign the case.
“I’m hearing from constituents and local leaders in my district, and it’s clear to me that it’s time for state leaders to take over or reassign the Trooper Londregan case from the Hennepin County Attorney’s office," Craig said in a statement. "Minnesotans deserve to have confidence in our state’s criminal justice process, and recent disclosures in this case have seriously damaged that process. This action would help restore public confidence and ensure an objective review of the case is completed.”
Craig's Democratic colleague Rep. Dean Phillips (CD3) agreed with Craig, saying, "In light of the circumstances, I believe it's in the best interests of our community and justice for the case to be transferred to Attorney General [Keith] Ellison."
Phillips and Craig joined Minnesota's Republican delegation, including Reps. Fischbach (CD7), Emmer CD6), Stauber (CD8) and Finstad (CD1), who penned a joint letter to the governor also calling for him to reassign the case."
"Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has weaponized her position against law enforcement," the letter read, in part. "She ignored an independent use-of-force expert chosen by her own office, who stated that Trooper Londregan acted as a “reasonable officer” would have. The fact that Trooper Londregan is still being charged with second-degree murder, along with other charges, after this statement from the prosecution’s own expert can lead us to only one conclusion; this prosecution is politically motivated."
While Walz hasn't said which way he'll decide on the case, he does unequivocally have the legal authority to remove a case from a prosecutor, just as he did last year in the high-profile murder case of Zaria McKeever.
Moriarty's office maintains its team has been "extremely thorough" during the investigation, and welcomed the opportunity to sit down with Walz and his team to discuss their concerns.
"Like in every case, we have been extremely thorough in this investigation and we will continue to be as we prepare this case for a potential trial. We would be happy to meet with the Governor or his team to discuss any concerns they have about the rules of criminal procedure — the same rules our office follows and fulfills in thousands of cases every year. Otherwise, we will litigate this case in court, which is where it belongs."
Londregan's next court appearance is scheduled for April 29.
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