ICE Killing: Vance Blames Woman in ‘Tragedy’ Case

Vice President JD Vance blamed a federal immigration officer’s fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman on “a left-wing network,” Democrats, the news media, and the woman herself, as protests related to the shooting expanded across the country.

Fatal Shooting of Renee Good Sparks Controversy

Vance made his critiques in a rare appearance in the White House briefing room and on social media, becoming the most prominent figure in the Trump administration to quickly assign blame for the death of 37-year-old Renee Good while the investigation remains ongoing. Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer while attempting to drive away on a snowy residential street during an operation related to the administration’s immigration crackdown.

Federal officials have stated the shooting was an act of self-defense, but Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described it as “reckless” and unnecessary.

Vance said he wasn’t concerned about prejudging the investigation, stating of videos he’d seen of the Thursday incident, “What you see is what you get in this case.” He asserted that Good accelerated her car into the officer and struck him, though video footage does not definitively confirm the vehicle made contact.

Mayor Frey said Wednesday that video of the shooting demonstrates arguments that the officer was acting in self-defense were “garbage”.

While expressing sadness over Good’s death, Vance also called her “brainwashed” and “a victim of left-wing ideology.”

President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have also defended the officer’s actions, claiming they were justified self-defense. Trump stated Good “viciously ran over” the ICE officer, a claim contradicted by available video footage.

Trump officials indicated they were rejecting claims from Democrats and Minnesota officials that deploying immigration officers in American cities was inflammatory and should cease.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday, before Vance spoke, that the administration would “redouble our efforts to get the worst of the worst criminal, illegal alien killers, rapists and paedophiles off of American streets.” She called Good’s killing “a result of a large, sinister left-wing movement”.

Vance, selected as Trump’s running mate last year partly for his debating skills, condemned headlines about the shooting, raising his voice and decrying the “corporate media.”

“This was an attack on law and order. This was an attack on the American people,” Vance said. He accused journalists of falsely portraying Good as “innocent” and stated, “You should be ashamed of yourselves. Every single one of you.”

Vance added that the best way to reduce tension was for people to address their concerns about immigration policy at the ballot box.

Vance also announced the administration was appointing a new assistant attorney general to prosecute abuse of government assistance programs, in response to growing attention to fraud in childcare programs in Minnesota. The prosecutor will primarily focus on Minnesota, and a nomination is expected in the coming days. Senate Majority Leader John Thune reportedly pledged a prompt confirmation.