MN House passes, sends to governor legislation to increase funding for Attorney General’s criminal prosecution division
The Minnesota House has passed and sent to the governor a bill to substantially increase funding so the Attorney General’s Office can hire more lawyers to assist county prosecutors with high-priority cases — particularly in Greater Minnesota. Republicans wanted the bill to say the money can also be used to investigate and prosecute waste, fraud and abuse in government — North Branch Representative Ann Neu Brindley saying the A-G fell short on the “Feeding our Future” scandal:
“They chose not to exercise that authority.”
Rosemount Democrat John Huot responds Attorney General Keith Ellison testified in committee…
“He started investigating it. Because it’s federal money, the feds came in and clawed it (took the case away), and he cooperated.”
Backers say the bill will increase the number of attorneys in the A-G’s criminal division from three up to 10, allowing them to handle 75 to 80 more cases per year.
