Judge lifts evidence-preservation order in Alex Pretti shooting, chiding White House remarks
A federal judge in Minnesota lifted the restraining order protecting evidence from the Jan. 24, 2026 fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a U.S. Border Patrol officer, saying the FBI-led probe reduces risk of evidence destruction and that other factors don’t justify continued preservation orders. The ruling criticizes public comments by White House officials as inflammatory and partisan, notes possible early mishandling of the scene amid crowd disruption, and leaves open access to the evidence for state prosecutors amid ongoing investigations.