Noem Refuses to Say ICE Officer’s Name on National TV as Minneapolis Outrage Grows
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem refused to repeat the name of an ICE officer who fatally shot a Minneapolis woman, calling it harmful even as national outlets have reported it.
The exchange on CBS’s Face The Nation came amid a heated national debate over the Jan. 7 death of Renee Nicole Good and whether federal law enforcement used excessive force. Noem’s reluctance to say the officer’s name added tension to an already explosive story.
Federal reporting and press records show the officer in question is Jonathan Ross, identified by news outlets using court filings and interviews with officials after multiple agencies declined to officially release his identity.
Noem has consistently defended the officer’s actions and the broader federal operation in Minneapolis, saying he believed his life was in danger and suffered injuries when Good’s vehicle struck him.
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Her concern about naming the officer — citing “doxxing” and safety risks — echoes wider government messaging on protecting law enforcement from retaliation or harassment. But it stands in contrast with publicly available reporting that already includes the officer’s name.
“The officer was hit by the vehicle… he has been released,” Noem said at a Jan. 7 briefing, underscoring her stance on media restraint.
The incident has spurred protests in Minneapolis and criticism from local leaders who challenge the federal narrative about Good’s actions.
As the FBI leads an investigation, the clash underscores broader tension between federal messaging and press reporting on law enforcement transparency.
Expect further scrutiny of both how federal officials communicate about the case and whether identities of agents involved in controversial shootings should be shielded.
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