Federal prosecutor fired after investigating ICE officer for civil rights offenses
A federal prosecutor in Minnesota who was investigating an ICE officer for possible civil rights crimes has been fired, four sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Evans, who was investigating Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Christian Castro for potential civil rights offenses, has been fired, according to four sources familiar with the situation. Evans was looking into the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, earlier this year.
The Justice Department charged Castro this week with making false statements about the incident, although the indictment remains sealed. ProPublica previously reported that Evans told the victims' attorneys to prepare for Castro to only be charged with making false statements, which would result in lesser penalties than criminal charges for violating constitutional rights under color of law.
Evans reportedly objected strongly to this decision and fought it as much as he could, but his efforts were unsuccessful. The firing of Evans is under investigation by the Justice Department, with allegations of leaking being probed.
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