Minneapolis Prosecutor Dubbed 'Bloody Mary' Amid Bodyguard Spending Controversy

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty has been given the moniker 'Bloody Mary' on social media, a nickname emerging amid controversy over her office's spending on personal security and a series of controversial plea deals. Moriarty, 62, has reportedly utilized taxpayer funds exceeding $500,000 for private bodyguards since November 2023.

The county has paid the private firm Relative Intel significant sums, with records indicating $10,950 in 2023, $103,825 in 2024, and a projected $183,875 in 2025. This spending has drawn sharp criticism, particularly in light of cases where accused criminals have been released under plea agreements.

One widely cited incident involved Carlton Johnson II, who allegedly threatened and assaulted a neighbor in June. Moriarty's office declined to file charges, citing insufficient evidence. Three months later, Johnson carried out a mass shooting at his apartment complex, killing two neighbors and injuring five others before being killed by police. Court documents indicated Johnson had a permit to carry a weapon and faced eviction proceedings at the time of the shooting.

Another case highlighted is that of Abdimahat Bille Mohamed, charged with multiple kidnappings and rapes, including against minors. Social media commentary suggests Mohamed was twice offered plea deals with no jail time by Moriarty's office, leading the Department of Justice to take over the case. Moriarty responded to the federal intervention, calling it a "clear attempt to politicize a sexual assault prosecution to inflict further harm on our entire Somali community."

Critics, including attorney Chris Madel, have labeled Moriarty's actions as hypocritical, pointing out that she has publicly downplayed crime concerns in Minneapolis while simultaneously employing a substantial security detail. Madel noted that other county officials facing threats have not been afforded similar taxpayer-funded protection.

Moriarty, elected in 2022 and taking office in January 2023, has consistently maintained that Minneapolis is a safe city. She has previously pushed back against claims, including those made by former President Donald Trump, regarding crime and alleged gang activity in the city.

The total expenditure on Relative Intel's services through August 28 of the current year reportedly reached $513,223. This amount has already surpassed the spending for the previous year and more than doubled the amount spent in 2024. Hennepin County confirmed an agreement with Relative Intel for personal security services for the County Attorney.

Moriarty announced in August 2025 that she would not seek re-election. Her tenure has been marked by various controversies, including an investigation into whether her office factored race into plea deal decisions and criticism for negotiating a lenient sentence for a double murderer while reportedly pursuing charges aggressively against police officers. She also reportedly spent an additional $150,000 of taxpayer money on a public relations firm to manage her reputation.