Bob Kroll for U.S. marshal among recommendations made to Trump by Minnesota Republicans

MINNEAPOLIS — House Republicans from Minnesota have submitted their recommendations to President Trump for the positions of the state’s U.S. attorney and U.S. marshal. One of the notable names put forward is Bob Kroll, the former president of the Minneapolis police union, who has become a contentious figure in recent years.

In a letter sent to Trump on Monday, Representatives Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, Pete Stauber, and Brad Finstad recommended Kroll for U.S. marshal, alongside James Stuart, the Executive Director of the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association.

For the role of U.S. attorney, the Republican representatives have nominated Ronald Schutz, Daniel Rosen, and Erica MacDonald, all of whom are lawyers in private practice in Minnesota. This comes after Andrew Luger, the previous U.S. attorney for Minnesota, resigned earlier this month.

Kroll, who stepped down as the head of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis in 2021, faced significant scrutiny after being barred from policing in Hennepin, Ramsey, and Anoka counties for a decade. This action was part of a settlement with the ACLU of Minnesota, which followed two class action lawsuits due to police misconduct against demonstrators in 2020.

The issues surrounding Kroll intensified following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in 2020. Following that incident, various city leaders, including then-Chief Medaria Arradondo, along with labor organizations and the public, called for Kroll to resign as the union president, criticizing his leadership as a hindrance to reforming the Minneapolis Police Department.

Kroll’s contentious relationship with city officials is further illustrated by reported conflicts with former Mayors R.T. Rybak, Betsy Hodges, and Jacob Frey. He even faced allegations of racism from both the public and fellow officers, which he has consistently denied.

In addition to his contentious history, Kroll has also been an outspoken supporter of former President Trump. He made headlines in 2020 when he spoke at a Trump rally in downtown Minneapolis, where he lauded the president for allowing police to carry out their duties amidst what he termed the “handcuffing and oppression of police” during the previous administration. Kroll drew attention at the rally by wearing a “Cops for Trump” shirt, which received validation from Trump himself.

James Stuart, the other candidate recommended for the U.S. marshal position, served as Anoka County sheriff from 2011 to 2023.

All three nominees for U.S. attorney bring a wealth of experience, with each boasting at least 27 years in the legal field. Schutz and Rosen are both graduates of the University of Minnesota Law School.

In their letter to President Trump, the Minnesota House Republicans expressed strong confidence in their recommendations, stating they believe that these individuals would “honorably serve your administration and the American people, uphold the rule of law, and prosecute crime to the fullest extent of the law.”