CBS News faced internal skepticism after reporting that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer who fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis suffered internal bleeding, according to emails viewed by the Guardian. The network cited two anonymous US officials in its report, which was published on Wednesday.
The story, initially posted on X (formerly Twitter), stated that officer Jonathan Ross 'suffered internal bleeding to the torso' after the incident. Some CBS News staffers expressed 'huge internal concern' about the sourcing, with one describing it as a 'thinly veiled, anonymous leak' from the Trump administration.
Internal emails show that a medical producer suggested asking about the type of treatment Ross received, while senior vice-president David Reiter questioned the broad term 'internal bleeding', noting that 'a bruise is internal bleeding' and that video showed Ross walking away. The network's top editor, Bari Weiss, showed strong interest in the story during an editorial call.
Other outlets, including ABC News and Fox News, also reported the claim, with Fox citing a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson. CBS defended its reporting, stating it 'went through its rigorous editorial process'. The network has faced accusations of bias toward the Trump administration since Weiss became editor-in-chief in October.
