Minnesota State Wire

Brad Finstad, a representative from Minnesota, has expressed support for the federal investigation into a Hennepin County plea policy that considers race. He described the policy as "unjust and discriminatory" in a statement made on X.

"Discrimination based on race has no place in our country, especially in our judicial system," said Finstad. "I commend President Trump and U.S. Department of Justice for launching a formal investigation into the discriminatory actions of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty."

In May 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice initiated a civil rights investigation into Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s plea deal policy. This policy permits prosecutors to consider a defendant’s race and age during charge negotiations. The Department of Justice said that the investigation aims to determine if this policy breaches federal anti-discrimination laws. Moriarty's office argues that the approach seeks to address systemic racial disparities and has committed to cooperating fully with the inquiry.

A study conducted by the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) highlighted significant racial disparities in plea deals across U.S. courts. It found that white defendants without prior convictions were over 25% more likely than similarly situated Black defendants to receive reduced charges. EJI reported that these findings raise concerns about fairness and systemic bias in prosecutorial decision-making.

According to Wikipedia, the California Racial Justice Act of 2020 provides legal avenues for defendants to challenge criminal charges and sentencing outcomes if racial bias is demonstrated. This act represents an effort to tackle systemic discrimination in criminal justice while adhering to constitutional equal protection provisions. It is one of the few legislative frameworks allowing race-conscious review in prosecutorial actions.

Finstad, a Republican representing Minnesota’s 1st District, was elected to the U.S. House in 2022 and previously served as USDA Rural Development Director for Minnesota. His official biography states that his legislative agenda focuses on supporting rural infrastructure, agriculture, and transparent governance, emphasizing accountability for federal agencies.