Washington– Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen called for the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying she believes Noem is trying to “mislead the American public” about… Deadly shooting To a 37-year-old protester in Minneapolis.
The call is from Rosen, a moderate from Nevada who was part of the group that… Help Republicans end the 43-day government shutdown Last year, he comes in amidst A.J Increasing anger from Democrats in Congress who also pledged to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The House’s decision to begin impeachment proceedings against Noem has the support of more than 100 Democrats, but few Senate Democrats have participated so far.
“Kristi Noem has failed miserably to lead the Department of Homeland Security over the past year — and the abuses of power we are seeing from ICE are the latest evidence that she has lost control of her management and staff,” Rosen said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Rosen said Noem’s behavior was “absolutely disgraceful” and she “should be impeached and removed from her position immediately.”
Impeachment proceedings are unlikely in the GOP-controlled Congress, but growing Democratic anger over the violence in the streets of Minneapolis is certain to derail Senate Republican leaders’ hopes this week of quickly approving a wide-ranging spending bill and avoiding a partial government shutdown on Jan. 30.
While some moderate Democrats were Be careful over the past year To criticize the Trump administration on border and immigration issues, and the deadly shooting in Minneapolis Alex Pretty On Saturday and Rene is good On January 7th It transformed the debateeven among moderates like Rosen.
The senator’s call for impeachment came after Noem’s quick defense, without a full investigation, of Prete’s shooting death by a Border Patrol agent. Videos of the scene reviewed by The Associated Press This appears to contradict statements by the Trump administration that shots were fired “defensively” against Pretty when he “approached” them with a gun. Pretty is licensed to carry a concealed weapon, but he appears to be seen only holding a phone in his hand in the videos.
During the struggle, agents discovered he was carrying a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and opened fire with several shots, including to his back. Officials did not say whether Preeti brandished the weapon.
Noem said Pretty appeared to “obstruct the law enforcement process.”
“This appears to be a situation where an individual arrived on the scene to inflict maximum harm on individuals and kill law enforcement,” Noem said Sunday.
In her call for Noem’s firing, Rosen pointed to other issues beyond ICE’s current operations. She said Noem also “violated the public trust by wasting millions of taxpayer dollars” on promoting herself, and cited reports that the Coast Guard bought her two luxury jets worth $172 million.
Rosen’s statement comes on the heels of a statement by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, one of the more left-leaning members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Markey said last week that Congress should begin impeachment proceedings against Noem, “who is now already coordinating this vigilance on our nation’s streets by ICE agents who are terrorizing cities across the country.”
While other senators stopped short of calling for Noem’s impeachment, Many moderate Democrats joined Rosen In voting to reopen the government last year, they said they would vote against funding the Department of Homeland Security this week even if it meant shutting down the government.
Nevada State Senator Catherine Cortez Masto said that the Department of Homeland Security is “brutally brutalizing American citizens and law-abiding immigrants.” “We do not live in normal times,” Virginia Senator Tim Kaine said.
While administration officials immediately defended the shooting, several Republicans called for a comprehensive investigation, including Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
Calls for Noem’s impeachment also rose in the House as the Democratic caucus held a phone call with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and the state’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, both former members of Congress, according to a person familiar with the private call who requested anonymity to discuss the matter.
Another person familiar with the call who insisted on anonymity to discuss it said most House Democratic lawmakers who spoke during the meeting called for Noem’s impeachment.
New York Rep. Laura Guillen, a Democrat, was one of only seven Democrats in the House of Representatives who He voted to fund DHS last week“There must be accountability, which is why Secretary Noem must be removed immediately,” he said Sunday.
“It is not focused on safety or border security, but rather on chaos and self-promotion, undermining local law enforcement and provoking violence as a result,” Guillen said in a post on X.
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AP congressional correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.