'Contrary to everything you're taught': Expert stunned over DOJ move he has 'never' seen

CNN's Elie Honig questioned the series of decisions that led to the resignations of multiple high-ranking prosectors in the Department of Justice over an immigration agent's killing of a woman in MInneapolis.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche declared Tuesday "there is currently no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation" into the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, which prompted the departures of at least five prosecutors in the DOJ's Civil Rights Division and five others in the Minnesota U.S. attorney's office.

"How on earth canthe number two prosecutor at the United States Justice Department, on the basis ofessentially zero investigation,six days after this fatalshooting happened, declare, ashe has now done, case over," Honig told "CNN News Central." "Tobe clear, when Todd Blanche saysthere will be no investigationfor civil rights violations,that would be the only potentialcriminal charge. There's afederal criminal law forcriminal violation of aperson's civil rights. We seeit a lot in cases involving useof force by police officers,state, local and federal."

Honig said the deputy attorney general's declaration violated the basic rules of justice.

"Sowhen Todd Blanche says there's nocivil rights investigation, thatmeans there's no criminalinvestigation, and to draw thatconclusion right now, first ofall, I think at a minimum, thisis a close call that needs afull investigation," Honig said. "But it alsois contrary to everything youare taught as a prosecutor: Youinvestigate first, you decidesecond, and here they're justflipping it on its head. Thedecision has been rendered."

Honig further added that he has "never" seen a similar situation, in which the DOJ signals attempts to investigate the victim and not the shooter.

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