The Justice Department’s civil rights division has asked a federal judge to sentence former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison to just one day in prison for his role in the botched 2020 raid that killed Breonna Taylor—a shocking reversal in a case that became a national symbol of racial injustice and police brutality.

Last year, a federal jury convicted Hankison of violating Taylor’s civil rights by firing blindly into her apartment during the raid. Though he faces a maximum life sentence, the DOJ’s request, filed Wednesday by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, argues that Hankison has already suffered enough, The New York Times reports.

In the filing, Dhillon, a Republican political appointee, wrote that Hankison, now a convicted felon who lost his job, has already paid a “substantial penalty.” She noted that two federal trials were needed to secure his conviction after an earlier mistrial and a state acquittal.

“The jury’s verdict will almost certainly ensure that defendant Hankison never serves as a law enforcement officer again and will also likely ensure that he never legally possesses a firearm again,” the filing stated.

But the request has ignited fury. Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, is “heartbroken and angry,” her legal team said.

“The family asked for one thing: that Brett Hankison be sentenced in accordance with the law and federal guidelines,” her lawyers wrote. “Recommending just one day in prison sends the unmistakable message that white officers can violate the civil rights of Black Americans with near-total impunity.”

Taylor, a 26-year-old Black emergency room technician, was killed when police stormed her home in a botched narcotics raid. Hankison fired shots through her windows, though he did not strike her. Two other officers fired the fatal bullets but were never charged.

The case exposed shoddy police tactics, including the use of a "no-knock" warrant (later modified to require announcement,though witnesses dispute whether police complied). A SWAT commander later condemned the operation as reckless, citing poor intelligence and tactical blunders.

Former civil rights attorney Samantha Trepel accused the DOJ of “transparent, last-minute political interference.” The filing was signed by Dhillon rather than career prosecutors, raising concerns about political influence.

Hankison’s sentencing is set for next week. Meanwhile, Taylor’s family and advocates see the DOJ’s request as a betrayal, one that underscores the struggle for accountability when police kill Black Americans.