A Minnesota prosecutor who spent more than $500,000 on private security has been branded “Bloody Mary” online amid criticism over plea deals that resulted in accused criminals being released.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, 62, drew the nickname on social media following reports that several defendants, including people accused of murder, had been freed.
Online criticism intensified after reports showed Moriarty had used more than $500,000 in taxpayer money to fund her personal private security.
“In Minnesota she is known as ‘Bloody Mary.’ She will unleash the worst of the worst back on the streets within hours while [having] 24/7 personal security,” one X user wrote.
Moriarty has used private bodyguards since November 2023, according to financial records obtained by Alpha News.
Records show Hennepin County paid the private firm Relative Intel $10,950 in 2023, $103,825 in 2024 and $183,875 in 2025 for Moriarty’s protection.
The county attorney has maintained that Minneapolis is a safe city. In December last year, Moriarty rejected President Donald Trump’s assertion that Somali gangs were terrorizing Minneapolis.
Moriarty has faced repeated controversy and criticism over what opponents call her “woke” prosecutorial approach. Among the most prominent complaints was her decision not to file charges against Carlton Johnson II, who allegedly threatened and assaulted his neighbor in June.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, 62, was dubbed “Bloody Mary” by social media users following reports that accused criminals had been released.
Moriarty has employed private bodyguards since November 2023. Hennepin County paid Relative Intel $10,950 in 2023, $103,825 in 2024 and $183,875 in 2025 to protect her.
Moriarty in June declined to file charges against Carlton Johnson II, who allegedly assaulted a neighbor at his apartment complex. He went on to carry out a mass shooting at the building on September 2
Three months later, he went on to carry out a deadly mass shooting at his apartment complex as he faced eviction proceedings from the building.
Another case in 2025 saw Abdimahat Bille Mohamed, who was charged with ‘multiple kidnappings and rapes, including against minors,’ charged once again after he was set free by plea deals.
A user on X wrote: ‘Bloody Mary let serial kidnapping gang rapist Abdimahat Bille Mohamed free twice with plea deals that involved no jail time. The 3rd time the DOJ took over because they didn’t trust her to actually give the guy jail time. She threw a fit with a TDS [Trump Derangement Syndrome] rant.’
In response to the additional charges, Moriarty said the Justice Department news release was a ‘clear attempt to politicize a sexual assault prosecution to inflict further harm on our entire Somali community.’
‘The current federal administration is more adept at pardons for violent insurrectionists and drug traffickers than prosecutions,’ Moriarty added. ‘If they intend to start caring about public safety and victims, we recommend they end their coverup of pedophiles and those who protect them.’
Moriarty has continued to maintain her stance that Minneapolis is safe, yet this year alone has spent a staggering $214,573 on Relative Intel’s services, records showed.
The amount, which only covered security fees through August 28, is more than what the county spent last year and over double the total spend in 2024.
Hennepin County confirmed the security spending to the news outlet, claiming it has ‘an agreement with Relative Intel, LLC to provide personal security services.’
In response to additional charges against Abdimahat Bille Mohamed, who was accused of ‘multiple kidnappings and rapes…against minors,’ Moriarty said it was a ‘clear attempt to politicize a sexual assault prosecution to inflict further harm on our entire Somali community
Moriarty with her longtime partner, progressive activist and former Hopkins School Board member Jen Westmoreland
A county spokesperson added: ‘This service is used by the County Attorney.’
Hennepin County entered a $115,000 agreement with Relative Intel from October 2023 to December 2024, the spokesperson said.
Moriarty was elected as county attorney in 2022 and took office in January 2023.
The county entered into a second contract, totaling $500,000, with that firm that runs from January 2025 until December 31 this year, the spokesperson said.
Hennepin County claims it has spent $425,000 on security for Moriarty under two contracts between November 2023 and June 2026.
But supplier payment records obtained by Alpha News that extend through August 28, 2026 reportedly show a total of $513,223 paid to the firm.
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Attorney Chris Madel, who has routinely clashed with the Democrat, has branded Moriarty a hypocrite over the alleged security spending.
‘Mary Moriarty spends her time telling Minneapolis residents not to worry about crime while spending $513,000 to make sure she doesn’t have to worry about it herself,’ Madel, a Republican who quit the GOP in January, told the outlet.
Johnson shot and killed two of his neighbors and left five more people injured at the Loring Towers complex in downtown Minneapolis on September 2
‘That’s not leadership. That’s hypocrisy with a security detail.’
He shared how other county officials have received ‘genuine death threats’ but are not afforded taxpayer funded security detail.
He added that it appears ‘crime is only a crisis’ when Moriarty has to ‘face it.’
Moriarty’s term as county attorney, which has been met with massive criticism over her handling of crime, ends on January 4, 2027.
Most recently, she has faced backlash over her decision not to file charges against Carlton Johnson II.
Johnson, 35, shot and killed two of his neighbors and left five more people injured during a mass shooting at the Loring Towers complex in downtown.
The gunman was killed by police officers.
Court documents say Johnson was facing eviction and had threatened a fellow resident with a gun in the months leading up to the shooting.
Police descended on the complex within two minutes of Johnson opening fire
Moriarty confirmed after the shooting that Minneapolis Police had investigated a June 25 encounter where Johnson had displayed a weapon but kept it in his waistband.
Police said he had a legal permit to carry the weapon, and Moriarty’s office decided not to file the charges because there was ‘insufficient evidence to prove a charge beyond a reasonable doubt.’
Moriarty’s office also declined to pursue an emergency order to remove Johnson´s weapon.
Court records also showed that at least one woman who had a child with Johnson filed a restraining order against him in 2023.
According to the complaint, Johnson threatened to kill her in expletive-laden text messages after she told police that he had sexually assaulted her two years earlier.
Interim Police Chief Bill Peterson, at the time of the mass shooting, defended the police response to Johnson’s record and said they only recently knew of many of the incidents.
Moriarty, who is in a relationship with progressive activist Jen Westmoreland, announced in August 2025 that she would not run for re-election.
Her tenure has been plagued by scandal.
Moriarty announced in August 2025 that she would not run for re-election
Last month she negotiated a lenient sentence for a double murderer.
She sought to prosecute police officers using the full force of the law but let a progressive public official off with a slap on the wrist after he keyed six Teslas to avenge Donald Trump’s 2024 election win.
Last year, Moriarty was probed by federal officials after she ordered her assistant prosecutors to factor in race when offering plea deals.
The slew of scandals saw Moriarty splurge another $150,000 of taxpayer cash to try and salvage her reputation.