Trending Now - DOJ Moves to Dismiss Charges Against Officers in Taylor Case
WHO:
Travis Lock, attorney for Joshua Jaynes, stated, “We are elated with this development.”
Michael Denbow, attorney for Kyle Meany, expressed he is “incredibly grateful for today’s filing.”
Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor, expressed disappointment in Trump’s Justice Department, stating, “Their phone call today informing me that charges against the police are being dropped while implying they have helped me is utterly disrespectful.”
Morgan McGarvey, Democratic U.S. Representative, stated, “My heart is heavy for Breonna’s loved ones — this is not justice.”
Federal prosecutors from the Justice Department
Joshua Jaynes, former Louisville detective
Kyle Meany, former Louisville sergeant
Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor
Morgan McGarvey, Democratic U.S. Representative
Brett Hankison, former officer convicted related to Taylor's death
Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General
Robert Keenan, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General
Katie Neff, Acting Criminal Chief
WHAT:
The Justice Department's filing to dismiss the charges was signed by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Robert Keenan, and Acting Criminal Chief Katie Neff.
The Justice Department stated, “Based on that review, and in the exercise of its discretion, the Government has determined that this case should be dismissed in the interest of justice.”
Federal prosecutors requested to dismiss charges against Jaynes and Meany.
Charges were related to falsifying a warrant that led to the raid on Breonna Taylor's apartment.
The charges were previously reduced from felony to misdemeanor.
A hearing is scheduled for April 3rd, 2026.
The city paid a $12 million wrongful death settlement to Taylor's family.
Hankison was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release.
WHERE:
Louisville, Kentucky
Breonna Taylor's apartment
WHEN:
The Justice Department filed the motion to dismiss on March 20th, 2026.
March 13th, 2020 - Date of Breonna Taylor's death
March 20th, 2026 - Date of the Justice Department's filing
2023 and 2025 - Years when felony allegations were reduced to misdemeanors
WHY:
The Justice Department's review concluded that the charges should be dismissed “in the interest of justice.”
Prosecutors stated the charges should be dismissed "in the interest of justice."
Judges found no direct link between the false information in the warrant and Taylor's death.
HOW:
The Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be revived in the future.
The filing was signed by officials from the Civil Rights Division, but no career prosecutors from the division's criminal section signed the brief.
(UPDATED March 21, 2026 01:23 UTC)
The Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss charges related to the Breonna Taylor case on March 20, 2026, stating that this decision was made in the interest of justice. Attorneys for both Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany expressed their satisfaction with the development, while Tamika Palmer, Breonna's mother, voiced her disappointment in Trump’s Justice Department for dropping the charges against the police. Democratic U.S. Representative Morgan McGarvey also shared his sorrow for Breonna's loved ones, emphasizing that this outcome does not represent justice.
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(UPDATED March 20, 2026 23:09 UTC)
Federal prosecutors from the Justice Department have requested to dismiss charges against former Louisville detective Joshua Jaynes and former sergeant Kyle Meany, which were related to falsifying a warrant that led to the raid on Breonna Taylor's apartment. The charges, previously reduced from felony to misdemeanor, are being dismissed "in the interest of justice," as judges found no direct link between the false information in the warrant and Taylor's death; a hearing is scheduled for April 3rd. The city had previously paid a $12 million wrongful death settlement to Taylor's family, and former officer Brett Hankison was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for his role in the incident.