Why the Minnesota DFL Party Should Drop Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar, the senior senator from Minnesota and a prominent figure in the Democratic Party, is seeking re-election in 2024. However, her past record as a prosecutor has come under scrutiny, as two cases of wrongful convictions that she was involved in have been overturned, freeing two innocent men who spent years in prison for crimes they did not commit.

These cases are not isolated incidents, but part of a pattern of prosecutorial misconduct, racial bias, and indifference to justice that Klobuchar exhibited during her tenure as the Hennepin County attorney from 1999 to 2007. As the county's top prosecutor, she pursued harsh sentences for low-level offenders, especially young people of color, while ignoring evidence of police brutality, corruption, and misconduct .

One of the most egregious examples of Klobuchar's failure to uphold justice is the case of Myon Burrell, who was convicted of murdering 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards in 2002, when he was only 16 years old. Burrell was sentenced to life in prison based on a single eyewitness identification and no physical evidence. A year-long investigation by the Associated Press revealed that the eyewitness was coached by the police, Burrell's alibi was ignored, and another suspect confessed to the crime. Burrell spent 18 years in prison before he was released in 2020, after a panel of independent experts reviewed his case and found numerous errors and violations of his rights.

Another case that exposes Klobuchar's negligence is the case of Marvin Haynes, who was convicted of murdering 55-year-old Randy Sherer in 2004, when he was also 16 years old. Haynes was sentenced to life in prison based on a single eyewitness identification and no forensic evidence. The eyewitness was the victim's sister, who died before Haynes's trial. Haynes maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration. Haynes was freed from a life sentence in 2023, after the Hennepin County attorney apologized and admitted that the case was flawed.

These cases are not only tragic for the victims and their families, but also for the wrongfully convicted men and their communities, who suffered the consequences of Klobuchar's unjust actions. Klobuchar has faced criticism for her role in these cases, as well as for her overall record as a prosecutor, which some say was harsh and racially biased . She has defended her actions, saying that she was following the evidence and the law at the time, and that she supports criminal justice reform and the review of wrongful convictions.

However, these words ring hollow, as Klobuchar has shown little remorse or accountability for her mistakes, and has failed to take any meaningful steps to address the systemic problems that led to these miscarriages of justice. She has also refused to meet with the families of the wrongfully convicted men, or to apologize to them personally.

Klobuchar's record as a prosecutor is not only a stain on her reputation, but also a liability for the Minnesota DFL Party, which claims to stand for progressive values and social justice. By continuing to support and endorse Klobuchar, the party is sending a message that it does not care about the truth, the rights, or the lives of the people it is supposed to represent, especially those who are marginalized and oppressed by the criminal justice system.

The Minnesota DFL Party should drop Amy Klobuchar as its candidate for the 2024 Senate race, and instead support someone who has a proven record of fighting for justice, equality, and human dignity. The people of Minnesota deserve better than a senator who has betrayed their trust and violated their rights.