Can States Charge Federal Agents With Murder? Leah Litman Weighs In - America at a Crossroads [View all]

[Rhiannon12866]

Constitutional law scholar Leah Litman addresses the fatal ICE shooting of an American citizen in Minnesota and explains what the law actually says about federal officers and criminal accountability.

Litman breaks down whether an ICE agent can be charged under state murder laws, why federal officers are not automatically immune, and how claims of self-defense are evaluated when video evidence is involved. She also discusses the constitutional right to film law enforcement and the broader implications for civil liberties when federal power is used against civilians.

This conversation focuses on legal standards, prosecutorial authority, and the limits of federal enforcement—grounded in what the law allows and what it does not.

📘 Guest: Leah Litman, Consititutional Law Professor
🎙️ Host: Madeleine Brand, Host of "Press Play" on KCRW-FM
📅 Recorded Jan 2026