A report indicates that an FBI agent involved in investigating Renee Nicole Goode’s death has stepped down from their position.
Goode was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent named Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on January 7.
Renee was with her wife, Becca Good, after dropping off their six-year-old child at school when they saw ICE operations occurring in their area.
The attorney for the Goode family mentioned that the couple paused to ‘observe, with the intention of supporting and helping their neighbors’. Unfortunately, this led to a tragic confrontation with an ICE agent.
Initially, the Trump administration labeled Goode as a ‘domestic terrorist’. However, video evidence surfaced that contradicted this claim, showing Goode attempting to drive away when Ross fired shots at her.
According to a report from the New York Times, an FBI agent, who collaborated with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on the case, has now resigned.
The publication noted that the investigation into agent Ross was being conducted as per standard procedure for such incidents.
According to The Hill, FBI agent Tracee Mergen resigned from her supervisory role in the investigation due to pressure from higher-ups in Washington.
CNN, sourcing information from two insiders, reported that Mergen was instructed to alter her investigation classification to portray it as an investigation into an assault on an officer.
“It is FBI policy not to comment on personnel matters,” the FBI stated when approached by the outlet.
NBC News revealed that at least six prosecutors in Minnesota have resigned over concerns about inadequate investigation into Goode’s death.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently stated that the department is ‘not investigating’ the shooting incident.
“The department of justice doesn’t just stand up and investigate because some congressman thinks we should, because some governor thinks that we should,” said Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer.
“We investigate when it’s appropriate to investigate and that is not the case here. We are not going to bow to pressure from the media, bow to pressure from politicians, and do something that we never do – not under this administration, not under the last administration. So no, we are not investigating.”
On Thursday, January 22, the Minnesota investigations agency stated that the attorney’s office had blocked its participation in the investigation into Goode’s death.
Drew Evans, Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, announced: “The investigation would now be led solely by the FBI, and the BCA would no longer have access to the case materials, scene evidence or investigative interviews necessary to complete a thorough and independent investigation.”
The Medical Examiner has officially determined Goode’s death to be a homicide.
Anthonio Romanucci, the attorney for the Goode family, released a statement following the January 23 ruling: “We are aware of the release of basic information by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner acknowledging the death of Renee Good as a Homicide.
“We are still waiting for their full report and hope that they communicate with Renee’s family and share their report before releasing any further information to the public.”