GOP candidate for governor Chris Madel providing legal counsel to ICE agent

Jeff Day, Star Tribune on Jan 14, 2026

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MINNEAPOLIS — Chris Madel, a Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota, is providing legal counsel to ICE agent Jonathan Ross as dual state and federal investigations into his shooting of Renee Good remain ongoing.

Madel told the Minnesota Star Tribune that he filed Ross’ application to have the U.S. Department of Justice provide legal representation under federal regulations.

Those regulations state that federal employees who are “sued, subpoenaed, or charged” for acting in their individual capacities will be provided legal representation by Justice Department attorneys.

Madel said his decision to provide assistance to Ross has no standing on his political aspirations and has nothing to do with publicity.

“I am still running for governor,” Madel said, adding that his main goal is helping Ross get legal representation from the federal government.

Ross has not been charged with any crimes or had any civil litigation filed against him since he shot and killed Good in south Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

Madel said that he has met with Ross and advised him on the best course of action as the FBI, Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and Minnesota Attorney General’s Office continue to investigate the shooting and Ross’ use of deadly force.

While he has recently launched his political career, Madel became well known in law enforcement circles after his vigorous and successful defense of Minnesota state trooper Ryan Londregan for the shooting death of Ricky Cobb II during a traffic stop in 2023 after Cobb attempted to flee.

Londregan was charged in Hennepin County District Court with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty later dismissed those charges.

Madel has been endorsed by the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, the union that represents Minneapolis officers, in his campaign for governor.

It was also announced Wednesday that Good’s family has hired the same law firm that won a record court settlement five years ago for the family of George Floyd.

A staff member with Romanucci and Blandin in Chicago told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Jan. 14 that the firm is representing Good’s family, and attorney Antonio Romanucci is on his way to Minneapolis from Chicago this morning.

Romanucci teamed with civil rights attorney Ben Crump and won a $27 million payout in 2021 from the city of Minneapolis to settle a wrongful death lawsuit in connection with Floyd’s death in May 2020 while pinned to the pavement by three police officers as a fourth stood guard. Derek Chauvin and the others were fired and sentenced to prison.

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