Washington, 14 Feb. (LaPresse) — Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons said Friday that his agency has opened a joint investigation with the U.S. Department of Justice after video evidence showed that “sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements” about the January shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis. Both officers have been placed on administrative leave while the criminal probe continues, and they could face termination or prosecution if the alleged false statements under oath are confirmed.
The announcement came a day after a federal prosecutor asked a judge to dismiss all charges against two Venezuelan men — including one who was shot in the leg — because newly discovered evidence was “materially inconsistent” with the initial allegations made by the officers. The judge granted the dismissal with prejudice, meaning the charges cannot be refiled.
Lyons emphasized that lying under oath is a serious federal offense and said the U.S. Attorney’s Office is actively investigating the matter.