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In a letter to President Donald Trump on Monday, Minnesota’s Republican congressional delegation recommended five people for the state’s U.S. attorney and U.S. marshal positions.

Reps. Tom Emmer, Pete Stauber, Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad put forward two names for the U.S. marshal job. 

One is Bob Kroll, the former head of the Minneapolis police union. Kroll is 

 in Ramsey, Anoka and Hennepin counties under the terms of a settlement for a federal lawsuit over the Minneapolis Police Department’s treatment of protesters in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.

The lawsuit, filed in 2020 by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, alleged that Kroll and others with MPD retaliated against people exercising their First Amendment rights to protest. In the settlement, Kroll denied all claims of wrongdoing. 

The representatives also recommended former Anoka County Sheriff James Stuart for U.S. marshal. He’s currently the executive director of the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association.

The letter recommended three candidates for U.S. Attorney, including Erica MacDonald, who held the position during Trump’s first term. Also recommended are Minneapolis attorneys Ronald Schutz and Daniel Rosen. 

stepped down to make room for Trump’s appointee. His successor will pick up the ongoing 

, and efforts to combat street gangs and gun violence. In the meantime, assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Kirkpatrick is serving as the acting U.S. Attorney.

Minnesota’s U.S. Marshal Eddie Frizell, a Biden appointee and the state’s first Black U.S. Marshal, has not yet announced plans to step down.

In their letter to Trump, the GOP representatives said they crafted their list with the help of a nominations committee made up of “highly respected, conservative legal minds.”

“Following a rigorous process, we are confident the following individuals would honorably serve your administration and the American people, uphold the rule of law, and prosecute crime to the fullest extent of the law,” the representatives wrote in the letter. 

Trump’s timeline for nominating people to fill the roles is unclear. The Senate will need to confirm his appointees.

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Estelle Timar-Wilcox

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The recommendations from Minnesota’s Republican congressional delegation include former Minneapolis police union leader Bob Kroll for U.S. marshal. For U.S attorney, they include Erica MacDonald, who held the position during Trump’s first term.

A man looks out of the frame to the left.

Evan Frost | MPR News file

Mark Zdechlik | MPR News

U.S. Attorney Erica MacDonald speaks on Dec. 12, 2018.

Minnesota Republicans recommend U.S. marshal, U.S. attorney candidates

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