Trump-appointed judge 'quickly' blocks admin from destroying evidence in new DHS killing

A judge who was appointed by Donald Trump himself has slapped the administration with an order against manipulating evidence related to the shooting and killing of an ICU nurse in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Josh Gerstein, senior legal affairs reporter at Politico, broke the news early Sunday morning Eastern time.

"BREAKING: Trump-appointed judge blocks FBI/DOJ/DHS from destroying or altering evidence related to shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis," he wrote. "Judge Eric Tostrud grants TRO, sets Monday hearing."

Tostrud, who is associated with the conservative Federalist Society, was appointed by Trump in February 2018, and was confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota by the U.S. Senate in September of that year.

"Defendants, together with their employees, agents, and anyone acting in concert with them, are ENJOINED from destroying or altering evidence related to the fatal shooting involving federal officers that took place in or around 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, including but not limited to evidence that Defendants and those working on their behalf removed from the scene and/or evidence that Defendants have taken into their exclusive custody," the Trump-nominated judge wrote in the order.

Fellow Politico reporter Kyle Cheney also shared the news, writing, "Judge Tostrud -- a Trump appointee — has quickly granted a restraining order, barring the administration from 'destroying or altering evidence' taken from today's shooting."

Read the brief order here.