CBS News faced internal dissent after citing two anonymous US officials to report that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis had suffered internal bleeding. The network initially posted the claim about officer Jonathan Ross on X, followed by an article by two correspondents, prompting criticism over its sourcing and alignment with Trump administration narratives.
Emails viewed by the Guardian revealed scepticism among CBS staff. A medical producer suggested asking what treatment Ross received, while senior vice-president David Reiter noted that “internal bleeding is a very broad term” and that video showed Ross walking away. The network’s story acknowledged he was seen walking from the scene.
One staffer described the report as a “thinly veiled, anonymous leak” from the Trump administration to someone willing to carry it online, adding that it felt like “carrying water for the admin’s justifying of the shooting to keep access to sources”. Another said it met with “huge internal concern”. Editor-in-chief Bari Weiss expressed strong interest in the story during an editorial call.
A CBS News spokesperson defended the report, saying it went through a “rigorous editorial process” and was deemed reportable based on reporting and sourcing. Other outlets, including ABC News, NBC News, and the New York Times, made brief mentions, while Fox News cited confirmation from the Department of Homeland Security.
Since Weiss took over in October, CBS has faced accusations of favouring the Trump administration. The network is owned by Paramount Skydance, backed by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, a friend of the president. On Tuesday, anchor Tony Dokoupil interviewed Trump, who claimed his appointment would not have happened under a Harris administration.
