Mary Moriarty has spent years pushing back on the idea that Minneapolis is a dangerous place.
“Crime is down,” the Hennepin County attorney recently declared, questioning what she called “fear mongering” about public safety — the latest example of Moriarty pushing back on rhetoric about violence and Somali gang activity.
But when it comes to protecting Moriarty, Hennepin County apparently isn’t taking any chances.
Records obtained by Alpha News show Hennepin County has paid a private security company $513,223 since November 2023 to protect Moriarty.
Obtaining those records took an unusually long time: Alpha News submitted the data request in 2024 but received the records from Hennepin County only days ago.
Records show Hennepin County paid private security company Relative Intel $10,950 in 2023, $103,825 in 2024 and $183,875 in 2025.
And through Aug. 28 of this year, payments had already reached $214,573 — more than double the amount spent during all of 2024.
Attorney Chris Madel, who has repeatedly clashed with Moriarty and represented Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan when Moriarty unsuccessfully prosecuted him in 2024, said he sees a glaring contradiction.
“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 told Alpha News. “That’s not leadership. That’s hypocrisy with a security detail.”
Moriarty pushed back on Somali gang concerns
Moriarty has also been vocal in pushing back against claims about Somali gang activity in the Twin Cities.
In December 2025, as Operation Metro Surge was starting, Moriarty downplayed concerns about Somali gangs.
“Let us be very clear: there are no ‘roving Somali gangs terrorizing people,’” she said.
Let us be very clear: there are no "roving Somali gangs terrorizing people."
The Trump administration is, once again, using a campaign of hatred and fear to try and divide us.
It will not work. pic.twitter.com/3ahQ11Hgnx
— Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty (@HennepinAtty) December 2, 2025
Months later, however, Ramsey County law enforcement officials publicly sounded the alarm about what they described as an “out of control” Somali gang problem in the Twin Cities.
Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Ben Seidel said in July that Minnesota has roughly a dozen Somali gangs, some with connections to gangs in Ohio.
“It’s ongoing and frankly, it’s nonstop and it’s out of control,” Seidel said.
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher also criticized what he described as a reluctance by public officials and the media to acknowledge the extent of the problem.
Madel said the newly obtained spending records make Moriarty’s public messaging particularly striking.
“Nothing says ‘Minneapolis is perfectly safe’ quite like a $513,000 security detail,” Madel said. “Apparently, Mary Moriarty’s confidence in her own message has an enormous price tag — and Hennepin County taxpayers are footing the bill.”
He also questioned why taxpayers are paying for that level of protection when others who receive threats are afforded no similar security.
“I know people who receive genuine death threats and get no taxpayer-funded protection whatsoever,” Madel said. “So apparently crime is only a crisis when [Moriarty’s] the one who has to face it.”
Another half-million-dollar taxpayer tab
Madel’s criticism comes with some history that includes another half-million-dollar price tag for taxpayers during Moriarty’s tenure.
Madel represented Trooper Londregan after Moriarty charged him with second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter in connection with the July 2023 shooting death of Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop.
Moriarty ultimately dropped all charges against Londregan in June 2024, saying new evidence meant prosecutors could not prove the case at trial.
But taxpayers were still left with the bill.
Moriarty’s office paid Washington, D.C.-based law firm Steptoe LLP $578,320 for its work on the Londregan prosecution before the charges were dropped.
The Londregan case was featured prominently in Alpha News’ documentary “Minnesota v. We the People.”
Madel also represented Alpha News in the high-profile defamation lawsuit brought by former Minneapolis assistant police chief Katie Blackwell, which a judge later dismissed.
County confirms security services are used by Moriarty
Hennepin County confirmed to Alpha News that Relative Intel was hired to provide personal security services used by the county attorney.
“Hennepin County has an agreement with Relative Intel, LLC to provide personal security services,” a county spokesperson said. “This service is used by the County Attorney.”
According to the spokesperson, the county initially entered into an agreement with Relative Intel covering Oct. 23, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2024, with a maximum value of $115,000.
A second agreement, running from Jan. 13, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026, has a maximum value of $500,000.
The spokesperson said Hennepin County Attorney’s Office data show $425,000 was spent under the two contracts on security for the county attorney between November 2023 and June 2026.
The supplier payment records obtained separately by Alpha News extend through Aug. 28, 2026, and show $513,223 in total payments to Relative Intel.
Moriarty’s office did not respond to Alpha News’ inquiries about the security arrangement.
Moriarty was elected Hennepin County attorney in 2022 and took office in January 2023. But voters will not get another chance to weigh in on her tenure.
She announced in 2025 that she would not seek reelection in 2026, making her current term her first and last as Hennepin County attorney.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
