WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department reportedly filed a motion earlier in March requesting that a federal judge to drop the charges against two former Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers who were indicted in connection with the 2020 death of Breonna Taylor.
Back in August of 2022, the Justice Department, under the Biden administration, brought charges against LMPD officers Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany, alleging the two were complicit in drafting an “allegedly false warrant” which played a critical role in the March 13, 2020, incident where Taylor was killed inside her home during an exchange of gunfire between police and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker.
Aside from the false warrant allegations, charged as federal civil rights violations, Jaynes was also facing charges of conspiracy and falsifying a report, while Meany was also charged with giving a false statement to federal investigators.
In August of 2024, U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson ruled that the civil rights violation charges against Jaynes and Meany weren’t legally sound, noting in his ruling that an allegedly false warrant didn’t cause Taylor’s death, but rather her boyfriend exchanging gunfire with police did. Thus, the most serious of the charges against the former LMPD officers were dropped.
Under the Trump administration, the Justice Department is now asking the court to completely dismiss the remaining charges against Jaynes and Meany in a March 20 Rule 48(a) filing.
“In light of the foregoing proceedings, the Government undertook a further review of the matter. Based on that review, and the exercise of its discretion, the Government has determined that this case should be dismissed in the interest of justice pursuant to Rule 48(a),” the filing reads in part.
The dismissal sought by the Justice Department is reportedly with prejudice, meaning the charges could never be brought against Jaynes and Meany in the future if the motion to dismiss is granted.
To date, two other former LMPD officers have been found guilty in federal court of various offenses related to Taylor’s death. Brett Hankison was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for civil rights violations, and Kelly Goodlett pleaded guilty to falsifying an affidavit connected to the original search warrant, although Goodlett has yet to be sentenced for the offense.
Back in August of 2022, the Justice Department, under the Biden administration, brought charges against LMPD officers Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany, alleging the two were complicit in drafting an “allegedly false warrant” which played a critical role in the March 13, 2020, incident where Taylor was killed inside her home during an exchange of gunfire between police and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker.
Aside from the false warrant allegations, charged as federal civil rights violations, Jaynes was also facing charges of conspiracy and falsifying a report, while Meany was also charged with giving a false statement to federal investigators.
In August of 2024, U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson ruled that the civil rights violation charges against Jaynes and Meany weren’t legally sound, noting in his ruling that an allegedly false warrant didn’t cause Taylor’s death, but rather her boyfriend exchanging gunfire with police did. Thus, the most serious of the charges against the former LMPD officers were dropped.
Under the Trump administration, the Justice Department is now asking the court to completely dismiss the remaining charges against Jaynes and Meany in a March 20 Rule 48(a) filing.
“In light of the foregoing proceedings, the Government undertook a further review of the matter. Based on that review, and the exercise of its discretion, the Government has determined that this case should be dismissed in the interest of justice pursuant to Rule 48(a),” the filing reads in part.
The dismissal sought by the Justice Department is reportedly with prejudice, meaning the charges could never be brought against Jaynes and Meany in the future if the motion to dismiss is granted.
To date, two other former LMPD officers have been found guilty in federal court of various offenses related to Taylor’s death. Brett Hankison was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for civil rights violations, and Kelly Goodlett pleaded guilty to falsifying an affidavit connected to the original search warrant, although Goodlett has yet to be sentenced for the offense.
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