Minneapolis Defense Attorney Suspected of Smuggling Drugs Into Jail Calls the Claims 'Deeply Offensive'

A Minneapolis defense attorney has denied allegations that she smuggled drugs into Hennepin County Jail, calling the claims "categorically false" and "deeply offensive."

Defense Attorney Sarah Gad was formerly incarcerated herself for a series of non-violent drug-related offenses, the Washington Post reported. She got clean and graduated from law school in 2020, and has since gained notoriety as a successful lawyer, even running for Congress. Now, she has been accused of smuggling drugs to jailed gang members.

According to a search warrant application reviewed by KSTP, surveillance footage showed Gad handing paperwork to an inmate, who later passed it to another inmate. During a subsequent search, jail officials found drug-laced documents that tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl.

Two separate trash pulls outside Gad's residence recovered liquor bottles, a syringe and a prescription with her name on it. The bottles reportedly tested positive for traces of cocaine, fentanyl, MDMA and heroin. A later search of Gad's home resulted in the seizure of her iPhone, stacks of white paper and a plastic baggie with white powder residue—though no actual narcotics were found inside.

In a strongly worded statement, Gad rejected the accusations, arguing that the shared trash bins behind her residence were accessible to multiple people and that ion swab testing, which detected the drug traces, is known for producing false positives.

"The premise of these accusations is as absurd as it is defamatory," Gad said, adding that her frequent jail visits are part of her duty as a defense attorney. She also suggested that the allegations could be retaliation for her history of challenging criminal justice misconduct.

Despite the search warrant and investigation, no criminal charges have been filed against Gad. She vowed to fight the claims, stating, "I will not be intimidated. I trust that the truth will prevail."