CBS News faced internal dissent after reporting that ICE officer Jonathan Ross suffered internal bleeding following a fatal shooting in Minneapolis, according to emails and staff accounts viewed by the Guardian. The report, which cited anonymous US officials, was met with 'huge internal concern' from some employees who questioned its sourcing and alignment with Trump administration narratives.
The network initially posted the claim on X, followed by an article citing two officials. Critics on social media and within CBS questioned the reliability of the anonymous sources. A medical producer suggested asking about treatment details, while senior vice-president David Reiter noted that 'internal bleeding' is a broad term, adding that video showed Ross walking away.
Staffers said top editor Bari Weiss showed strong interest in the story on an editorial call. One employee described the report as a 'thinly veiled, anonymous leak' from the administration, while another felt the network was 'carrying water' for the administration to maintain access. A CBS spokesperson defended the story, stating it underwent a 'rigorous editorial process'.
Other outlets, including ABC News and Fox News, also reported the claim, with Fox citing a DHS spokesperson. The controversy comes amid accusations of CBS favouring the Trump administration under new leadership, with the network owned by Paramount Skydance, backed by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.
