[Governor Dinwiddie]

Believe it or not, all kinds of knots are used in the skilled construction trades. Old fashioned rope is used by every trade. A loop in a rope is not a "noose". A bowline is not a noose. I used to have to tie plenty of vertical barrel hitches back in the day. A "noose" in and of itself is not threatening, any more than a firearm is "threatening".

[cuz1961]

. A loop in a rope is not a “noose”.

/\

Technically

A noose
isn’t a hangman noose
unless it has at least 13 wraps.

[sphinx]

I wondered the same thing. The story, of course, does not show a picture of the “noose.” Nor does it indicate where on site it was found. Modern “journalism.” No solid information, but the reporter got the intended spin right.