The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good during an ICE operation in Minneapolis resulted in public outrage and demonstrations that spread beyond Minneapolis. However, much of the renewed attention has centered on a decision made days later by billionaire investor Bill Ackman.
Ackman, hedge founder manager and chief executive of Pershing Square Capital Management, an investment management company, known as a long-time donor to Democratic candidates and organizations, confirmed a donation of $10,000 to a GoFundMe campaign set up to support Jonathan Ross, the ICE agent involved in the incident.
The fundraiser aims at helping Ross with professional and personal fees after he became the subject of online abuse and threats, including doxxing.
As Ackman’s donation quickly became a flashpoint, the billionaire issued a lengthy statement on X in which he defended his decision, claiming it wasn’t meant as a political statement. “I am big believer in our legal principal that one is innocent until proven guilty,” he wrote and added that he had also intended to donate to a fundraiser set up to support Good’s family but said it “was closed by the time I attempted to provide support.”
“My purpose in supporting [the officer] and attempting to support Good was not to make a political statement,” Ackman said. “I was simply continuing my longstanding commitment to assisting those accused of crimes of providing for their defense. I strongly believe that only a detailed forensic investigation by experts and a deep understanding of the law that applies will enable us to determine whether [the officer] is guilty of murder.
“Twenty-three years ago almost to the day, I was accused of a crime that I did not commit. [I] was confident that I had done nothing wrong, but I was convicted in the headlines. I was under investigation for nearly a year before it ended without any finding of wrongdoing, but it would be years later before I was exonerated in the public eye. Fortunately, I had the financial resources to pay for my defense and support my family during the investigation, a period during which I was unemployed,” the billionaire added.
Supporters of Ackman’s decision to donate to the ICE agent claim he was standing up for legal principles at a time when public pressure and online outrage risk undermining fair process. Further, they argued that officers involved in fatal incidents are often subjected to immediate judgment before investigations conclude and that raising money for legal costs is a common response in such cases.
Critics on the other hand dubbed the donation troubling, arguing that regardless of Ackman’s intent, showing support for an officer involved in a civilian’s death sends a powerful signal especially during times when the federal agency is already under scrutiny.
Legal experts note that crowdfunding for legal defense is lawful and fairly common in high-profile cases, but warn that such campaigns can shape public opinion before investigations are complete. Ackman’s involvement has also raised the question about the influence of wealthy donors, with some seeing his contribution as a stand for due process and others as a symbol of unequal power and public sympathy.
The investigations into the shooting are ongoing.
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