Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem scolded CBS’s Margaret Brennan for mentioning the name of the ICE agent who shot Renee Good on Jan. 7 in Minneapolis.
During a tense exchange on CBS’s Face the Nation Sunday, Noem bristled as Brennan referenced Jonathan Ross — the ICE agent widely identified in multiple media reports as the man who fatally shot Good.
“Let me talk to you about the officer, Jonathan Ross,” Brennan began. “He was struck, he was hospitalized—”
Noem cut her off mid–sentence.
“Don’t say his name!” Noem snapped. “I mean, for heaven’s sakes … we shouldn’t have people to continue to dox law enforcement when they have an 8000% increase in death threats against them.”
“His name is public,” Brennan replied.
“I know, but that doesn’t mean it should continue to be said,” Noem said, adding that “people have attacked him and his family” and that they are “in jeopardy.” She also claimed officers are being threatened and attacked, including “at their hotels.”
Brennan said “no one condones violence against anyone,” then returned to her line of questioning: the agent’s condition and whether he had been taken off duty.
“CBS reported that he did have internal bleeding in the torso, but he was released that same day,” Brennan said. “So is he back at work? Did you give him the required three days of suspension?”
Noem did not answer directly, instead saying her department handled it the way it always does.
“We followed the exact same protocols that we always have for years as to investigations into these situations,” she said, before adding, “But I’m not gonna talk about his medical records.”
“I’m asking you about your policies,” Brennan pressed. She asked whether the agent had been placed on administrative leave, noting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has said the only person not being investigated in the shooting is the federal agent who fired the fatal shot.
“Is he correct that the federal agent is not being investigating in any way?” Brennan asked.
Noem again emphasized that DHS and ICE were following established procedures.
“We are following the exact same investigative and review process that we always have under ICE and under the Department of Homeland Security and within the administration,” she said, calling it “the exact same policy that the Biden administration used.”
After several careful responses, Noem did indicate that the agent’s actions are being examined.
“So there is some review of his actions, is what I understand you saying there,” Brennan said.
“There always is,” Noem replied. “Every law enforcement officer knows that. When they take the oath to step up and to protect the public and put their lives on the line, they absolutely know that everything that they do will be analyzed and investigated.”
