Concerns are rising as former prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys criticize the Trump administration’s decision to withhold investigative information regarding a shooting in Minneapolis involving ICE, labeling it as highly irregular.
Local and state prosecutors in Minnesota have voiced frustration, accusing the FBI of obstructing their efforts. The FBI is currently spearheading the investigation into the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot in her vehicle by an ICE agent on Wednesday.
“This is what a cover-up looks like,” remarked Dan Gelber, a former federal prosecutor and current mayor of Miami Beach, in an interview with Axios.
During a press conference on Friday, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty expressed that the FBI has been uncooperative, refusing to share evidence with her office.
In response, Moriarty has launched an online portal for the public to submit any information they might have about the incident.
Both Moriarty and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison have affirmed their jurisdiction to investigate the shooting and potentially press charges against the ICE agent, identified as Jonathan Ross, a 10-year veteran of the agency.
At the same time, the Minneapolis Bureau of Criminal Apprehensions has said it is being barred from the crime scene, is not being given evidence and is not being permitted to conduct interviews.
‘At this time, the BCA is not conducting a use-of-force incident investigation,’ the agency said in a statement on January 9.
Renee Nicole Good, 37, was in her car on Wednesday when she was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Local and state authorities are claiming that the FBI is not sharing evidence with them. The FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting, which was done by Jonathan Ross, a 10-year veteran of ICE
Ross, who was identified days after the shooting, is pictured with his wife
‘The BCA remains open to conducting a full investigation of the incident should the US Attorney’s Office and FBI reconsider their approach and express a willingness to resume a joint investigation or to share all evidence and evidentiary reports held by FBI investigators.’
Eric Nelson, one of the defense attorneys for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, has also expressed surprise that federal authorities are taking complete control of the investigation.
‘It’s shocking to me that this is the route and the path that it’s taking, because I do believe that it undermines the public trust in the government,’ Nelson told Axios.
The Department of Justice claimed it stopped cooperating with local detectives after Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the idea that the ICE agent was defending himself from Good’s vehicle was ‘bull****.’
‘They have no intent to pursue a good-faith investigation,’ a DOJ official said in response.
President Donald Trump, who immediately sided with the ICE agent in the aftermath of the shooting, has also defended the decision to cut out local authorities, calling them ‘crooked’.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said during a press conference in New York City on Thursday that Good was following and harassing ICE agents who were in the middle of an operation. Noem characterized Good’s conduct as an act of ‘domestic terrorism’.
The agent who shot her was acting in self defense, Noem said, adding that his actions were consistent with his training.
‘This vehicle was used to hit this officer,’ she said. ‘It was used as a weapon, and the officer feels as though his life was in jeopardy. It was used to perpetuate a violent act, and this officer took action to protect himself and to protect his fellow law enforcement officers.’
President Donald Trump and members of his administration have all defended Ross and said the shooting of Good was justified and in self defense
Vice President JD Vance said Ross has ‘absolute immunity’ from criminal charges because he was on duty at the time of the shooting
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty contradicted Vance, saying that Ross does not have complete immunity here’
Vice President JD Vance has also been vocal in defending the ICE officer, saying on Thursday that he ‘deserves a debt of gratitude’.
Vance pointed out that the agent, Jonathan Ross, was dragged 100 yards by a car in June as he tried to arrest an illegal immigrant sex offender in Bloomington, Minnesota.
An FBI agent who spoke to the Daily Mail on condition of anonymity confirmed that Ross was involved in this incident. He ended up needing 20 stitches for his right arm and 13 for his left hand.
After assailing the media for prejudging Ross as a murderer, Vance accused Good of being part of a ‘broader left wing network’ that used ‘domestic terror techniques’ to go after ICE agents.
Vance then commented on Ross’s ability to be prosecuted, claiming that he enjoys ‘absolute immunity’ from criminal charges because he was on duty at the time of the shooting.
Moriarty contradicted Vance, saying that Ross ‘does not have complete immunity here’.
Federal agents have what is called qualified immunity, which protects them from civil lawsuits unless a judge determines that they have clearly violated a person’s constitutional rights.
Qualified immunity does not protect agents from facing state or federal criminal charges.
Given that the Trump administration has already sided with Ross, it is a near certainty that the Department of Justice will not pursue a case against him. If Ross is charged, it will likely come from Moriarty’s office.
