Sen Tina Smith accuses Trump officials of cover-up in Minneapolis ICE shooting

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn) accused the Trump administration on Sunday, January 11, of attempting to shape public understanding of the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, alleging that federal officials rushed to judgment before any independent investigation could unfold.

Appearing on ABC’s 'This Week', Smith said that senior officials moved quickly to frame the incident in a way that shielded the administration from scrutiny following the death of the 37-year-old mother of three.

“I think what we are seeing here is the federal government attempt to cover up what happened here in the Twin Cities,” Smith told host Martha Raddatz. “And I don’t think that people here and around the country are believing it.”

Tina Smith says officials shaped narrative before probe

When asked to clarify her claim, Smith argued that the administration’s public posture was set before investigators had time to determine what occurred.

“What I mean by that is that you can see everything that they are doing is trying to shape the narrative, to say what happened, without any investigation,” she said.

Smith pointed to early comments from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as evidence.

“Hours after Renee Good was shot and killed by federal agents, Kristi Noem was already telling us exactly what had happened,” Smith said. “They were calling her a domestic t*******t before they even knew what her name was.”

The administration stated that the officer involved acted in self-defense during a federal operation in Minneapolis.

Tina Smith challenges official account and cites police training standards 

The shooting involved ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who fired on Renee Good during a street encounter on Wednesday. Federal officials maintained that Ross faced an imminent threat and responded lawfully.

Smith questioned that account, referencing standard law enforcement training. “Professional law enforcement is trained to de-escalate situations,” she said. “They are certainly trained to step out of the way of a moving vehicle, not place themselves in the middle of a moving vehicle.”

She added that officers are trained not to escalate encounters with civilians engaged in protest activity. Smith said that the available information raised questions about whether those protocols were followed.

Officials stand by characterization of Minneapolis incident

Despite the criticism, administration officials have stood by their characterization of the incident. On CNN’s 'State of the Union', Noem reiterated that Good’s actions amounted to “domestic t********m,” maintaining that the officer acted to protect himself and others.

Smith argued that such definitive public statements undermined confidence in the investigative process.

“If we're going to trust the federal government, how can we trust the federal government to do an objective, unbiased investigation when at the beginning of that investigation they have already announced exactly what they saw?” she asked. 

FBI launches probe as state officials cite exclusion

The FBI has opened a federal investigation into the shooting. Minnesota officials, however, say that state agencies have been excluded from access to case materials, creating friction over jurisdiction and oversight.

ABC News reported that it obtained cell phone video of the incident recorded by the ICE agent involved. Smith suggested the footage raised questions about the official narrative.

The shooting has sparked protests in multiple cities against ICE operations. Minneapolis officials have said demonstrations in the city have remained largely peaceful as federal and state authorities continue to review the incident.