Minnesota bill may allow U.S. citizens to sue federal agents for civil rights violations

(ABC 6 News) – DFL lawmakers are proposing a bill to allow U.S. citizens to sue federal agents for civil rights violations, KAAL, KSTP’s sister station in Rochester, reports.

Rep. Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, one of the lawmakers who introduced the bill, said the proposed legislation aims to enhance Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures by enabling lawsuits against federal officers in state court.

The representative emphasized the bill’s goal is to help individuals seek recourse through civil damages.

“We are trying to help those individuals seek recourse by providing the opportunity to go to court and sue for civil damages so for monetary damages for federal agents who are operating unconstitutionally in our state,” Long said.

Republican Rep. Duane Quam, R-Byron, expressed concerns about the bill’s stipulation, noting it could lead to inconsistent regulations for federal officials across states.

“Part of the reason that it’s done that way is so that you don’t have 50 different sets of regulations for the federal officials working in their capacity,” said Quam.

Long said he hopes the proposed legislation will be a topic of discussion during Minnesota’s legislative, which begins next month. Similar legislation has been enacted in California, Maine, Massachusetts, Illinois and New Jersey.

There is similar legislation pending in Wisconsin and New York.
The post Minnesota bill may allow U.S. citizens to sue federal agents for civil rights violations first appeared on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News.