MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger has officially announced his resignation as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the district, effective at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2025.
This resignation marks the end of Luger’s second term as the top prosecutor and federal law enforcement executive in Minnesota. He was appointed by President Joseph R. Biden and sworn in on March 30, 2022, as the 37th United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota. Previously, he was appointed by President Barack Obama and served as Minnesota’s United States Attorney from 2014 to 2017.
“I have been honored to lead this office for the second time,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said. “In March 2022, I set us on the path to address violent crime to meet the challenge our community faced. I am so grateful to the people of this Office and our many law enforcement partners for the work we have done to bring violent criminals to justice. We have also taken aggressive action against child predators, for which I am proud.”
Under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Luger, the U.S. Attorney’s Office focused on prosecuting crimes related to gun and gang violence, narcotics trafficking, online child exploitation, human trafficking and smuggling, as well as financial fraud and public corruption. As part of its violent crime initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged over 100 gang members, brought the first-ever RICO cases against Minneapolis gangs, charged 70 defendants in the Feeding Our Future scandal, and charged five individuals with attempting to bribe a juror in the first Feeding Our Future trial.
Additionally, the Office brought charges against a defendant for attempting to commit arson at a mosque, secured a conviction in a sex trafficking case against Tony Lazzaro, and indicted a woman for straw-purchasing firearms used in the fatal shooting of three first responders in Burnsville, Minnesota. Under U.S. Attorney Luger’s direction, the Office also revamped and expanded its work in Indian Country, opened an office in Duluth with the first full-time federal prosecutor outside of the Metro area, and increased its civil enforcement and investigation of civil rights cases.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger’s approach to combating violent crime in the Twin Cities and beyond had recently earned him a commendation from the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association and the Minneapolis Police Department. Last September, he received an Honorary Award of Appreciation from the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for his “innovative strategy of both targeting those who commit firearm violence and disrupting the supply of firearms to criminals in Minnesota,” along with his support for the overall mission of the ATF.
Additionally, U.S. Attorney Luger was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, where he chaired the Violent Crime Subcommittee. In this role, he led over 30 U.S. Attorneys in developing and implementing innovative strategies to address violent crime nationwide.
Following Luger’s resignation, Lisa D. Kirkpatrick, who currently serves as the First Assistant United States Attorney, will become the Acting United States Attorney. Ms. Kirkpatrick is a veteran federal prosecutor who has previously served as the Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney and Appellate Chief.
“I thank President Biden for nominating me as United States Attorney, and Attorney General Garland for leading the Department and supporting the District of Minnesota during my tenure,” U.S. Attorney Luger commented. “I was privileged to work closely with Attorney General Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. It has been an honor to serve the American people.”
