US Justice Department Declines to Investigate Fatal Shooting of Renee Good by ICE Agent
In a stunning decision that has left civil rights advocates and lawmakers outraged, the US Justice Department has announced that it is not conducting an investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good, an 18-year-old woman who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis just six years after George Floyd's murder.
The lack of action comes despite a video-recorded killing of Good, which shows the ICE agent, Jonathan Ross, opening fire on her from his car. The incident has drawn parallels with the 2020 killing of George Floyd, which sparked widespread protests and calls for reform. Unlike Floyd's case, however, the Justice Department has taken no action to investigate Ross.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche dismissed criticism, claiming that there was "no need" for an investigation into the shooting, citing the availability of video evidence as proof of self-defense. However, forensic analysis of the footage from reputable sources such as the New York Times and Bellingcat has shown that Good did not intentionally attack Ross.
The decision to decline investigation is seen as part of a broader pattern of the Justice Department's Trump administration undermining its own independence and civil rights division. Critics argue that Blanche's statement reflects a partisan agenda, with the department refusing to act on public outrage over killings by law enforcement officers.
This raises questions about the extent to which the Justice Department is willing to accommodate pressure from politicians and the media. In contrast, during the Trump administration's previous term in office, the Justice Department launched an investigation into Floyd's killing after calls for reform escalated. That investigation ultimately led to convictions of four Minneapolis police officers for federal civil rights offenses.
The decision not to investigate Good's killing has sparked outrage among lawmakers, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and ICE critics. It has also led to accusations that the Trump administration is running roughshod over traditional independence at the Justice Department, with appointing partisan leaders and directing prosecutors against his political enemies.
The situation highlights deep-seated concerns about accountability and the rule of law in the US justice system, particularly under the current administration's handling of cases involving law enforcement officers. As protests continue to simmer across Minneapolis over ICE detentions and killings, it remains to be seen whether the Justice Department will take any further action on Good's killing or Ross's case.
In a stunning decision that has left civil rights advocates and lawmakers outraged, the US Justice Department has announced that it is not conducting an investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good, an 18-year-old woman who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis just six years after George Floyd's murder.
The lack of action comes despite a video-recorded killing of Good, which shows the ICE agent, Jonathan Ross, opening fire on her from his car. The incident has drawn parallels with the 2020 killing of George Floyd, which sparked widespread protests and calls for reform. Unlike Floyd's case, however, the Justice Department has taken no action to investigate Ross.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche dismissed criticism, claiming that there was "no need" for an investigation into the shooting, citing the availability of video evidence as proof of self-defense. However, forensic analysis of the footage from reputable sources such as the New York Times and Bellingcat has shown that Good did not intentionally attack Ross.
The decision to decline investigation is seen as part of a broader pattern of the Justice Department's Trump administration undermining its own independence and civil rights division. Critics argue that Blanche's statement reflects a partisan agenda, with the department refusing to act on public outrage over killings by law enforcement officers.
This raises questions about the extent to which the Justice Department is willing to accommodate pressure from politicians and the media. In contrast, during the Trump administration's previous term in office, the Justice Department launched an investigation into Floyd's killing after calls for reform escalated. That investigation ultimately led to convictions of four Minneapolis police officers for federal civil rights offenses.
The decision not to investigate Good's killing has sparked outrage among lawmakers, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and ICE critics. It has also led to accusations that the Trump administration is running roughshod over traditional independence at the Justice Department, with appointing partisan leaders and directing prosecutors against his political enemies.
The situation highlights deep-seated concerns about accountability and the rule of law in the US justice system, particularly under the current administration's handling of cases involving law enforcement officers. As protests continue to simmer across Minneapolis over ICE detentions and killings, it remains to be seen whether the Justice Department will take any further action on Good's killing or Ross's case.