This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I’m Amy Goodman.
In Minnesota, two ICE agents have been suspended and face criminal investigation into whether they lied to a jury about the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant last month. The officers claimed Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and his cousin Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna attacked them with a snow shovel and a broom after a traffic stop on January 14th, and said one of the officers fired in self-defense. Shortly after the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described it as an “attempted murder” of federal law enforcement.
But video evidence directly contradicts claims the men attacked federal agents. Sosa-Celis said he had retreated into his home and was shot in the leg while in the process of closing and locking his door. On Thursday, a federal judge dismissed felony assault charges against the cousins after the U.S. attorney in Minneapolis said newly discovered evidence had contradicted the officers’ testimony, and after ICE admitted the federal agents lied under oath.
For more, we’re joined in Minneapolis by Frederick Goetz, criminal defense attorney who represents Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna.
Thanks so much for being with us. Can you explain exactly what happened? How rare for the Department of Justice to admit that their agents lied?
FREDERICK GOETZ: Well, that is unusual, as is the result in this case, which is not only a dismissal, but a dismissal with prejudice, meaning that my client can never be charged again for anything to do with this incident.
AMY GOODMAN: Explain what took place, as you understand it, Fred Goetz.
FREDERICK GOETZ: What happened, from my client’s perspective, which I think is actually the truthful version, is that he was on his way home — he’s a DoorDash delivery person — and he was followed by ICE agents. This followed the shooting of Renee Good by about a week, so he was filled with fear. He just wanted to get home. He gets out of his car, and he’s running in his home, when he’s tackled by the ICE agent.
At that point, there is a struggle. There’s no dispute about that. My client slipped out of his sweater and then was in the process of running into his home. His cousin comes out, Juan Sosa-Celis — or, Julio Sosa-Celis. They do not strike the agent. There’s no attack with a broom. There’s no attack with a shovel. They run and retreat inside the house, behind a closed door, and that’s when they’re shot at by the agent.
AMY GOODMAN: If you can explain what they were originally charged with?
FREDERICK GOETZ: They were charged with assaulting a federal officer, which is a very serious offense. As a result of this, Mr. Aljorna, I mean, he’s been branded a criminal, not only here, but, you know, through the internet, in his home of Venezuela. And so, this person who had been living a law-abiding life up to this point is all of a sudden deemed a criminal. So it’s had serious repercussions for this man and his reputation.
AMY GOODMAN: Can you talk about the significance of the judge dismissing the case with prejudice? What does “with prejudice” mean?
FREDERICK GOETZ: It means he can never be charged again for anything to do related with this.