HCAO launches new evidence portal, establishes Transparency and Accountability Project

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced the office has created the Transparency and Accountability Project (TAP) in the wake of Operation Metro Surge.

TAP’s purpose is to collect and assess evidence submitted by the public of potentially unlawful behavior by federal agents. It is staffed by HCAO prosecutors and an HCAO civilian investigator.

A new portal for community members to share photos, videos, and descriptions of any incidents that may involve unlawful conduct by federal agents has been created to support TAP. The previous portal for evidence in the Renee Good and Alex Pretti shootings has served its purpose and been closed.

“Our TAP team is actively investigating 17 incidents that have been brought to our attention by the community, including Gregory Kent Bovino’s actions near Mueller Park on January 21,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “We will investigate and pursue charging where appropriate, and we’ll seek collaboration with local law enforcement wherever and whenever needed.”

Investigation and prosecution of federal agents present significant challenges and the HCAO must be prepared to litigate those challenges prior to filing charges. This will lead to a longer charging timeline than is typical for this office.

“Make no mistake, we are not afraid of any legal fight,” Moriarty continued. “But we will do this ethically, responsibly, and vigorously. TAP is fundamental to our efforts to ensure the transparency and accountability that our community deserves. This is just the beginning.”

The TAP portal is accessible here.

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