Amid bipartisan calls for an investigation into the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, House Democratic leaders on Tuesday demanded President Donald Trump fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem -- warning him that if he doesn't -- or if she doesn't resign -- they would launch an impeachment inquiry aimed at Noem.
"Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, not kill them in cold blood," said Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar.
DHS report says 2 agents fired weapons in Alex Pretti shooting
"The violence unleashed on the American people by the Department of Homeland Security must end forthwith. Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives. We can do this the easy way or the hard way," they said.
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Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, called on his Republican counterpart, Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of House Judiciary, to commence impeachment proceedings.
He acknowledged the challenge ahead for Democrats who wish to impeach Noem, keenly aware that Jordan almost certainly won't take the bait.
Raskin, who was the lead House manager for the second impeachment trial of President Trump in 2021, pledged to join Homeland Security ranking Democrat Bennie Thompson and the ranking Democrat on Oversight, Rep. Robert Garcia, to "launch a complete oversight and impeachment inquiry into all potential constitutional crimes committed by Secretary Noem related to these homicides as well as to other episodes of bureaucratic lawlessness and corruption that may involve treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors."
"Under the failed leadership of Secretary Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security has unleashed a shocking assault on the most basic Constitutional rights and freedoms of the American people," Raskin, D-Md., asserted.
"Masked agents at ICE and Border Patrol have brutally killed two American citizens, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, depriving them of life and liberty with no due process of law," he said.
"Far from condemning these unlawful and savage killings in cold blood, Secretary Noem immediately labeled Renée and Alex 'domestic terrorists,' blatantly lied about the circumstances of the shootings that took their lives, and attempted to cover-up and blockade any legitimate investigation into their deaths," Raskin said.
A Democratic effort led by Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois now has 162 cosponsors to impeach Noem – gaining 51 Democrats in the aftermath of Pretti's killing. No Republicans have signed onto the effort so far, despite dozens of Republicans calling for an investigation into the Pretti killing.
Also Tuesday, House Democratic leaders demanded the federal agents involved in the Good and Pretti killings be "criminally prosecuted," insisting "paramilitary tactics must cease and desist."
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Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina became the first Senate Republican to say Noem should no longer serve in her role.
Asked by a reporter Tuesday evening if he still had confidence in Noem after what's occurred in Minneapolis, Tillis said, "No, not at all. I think she should go."
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski joined Tillis in expressing displeasure with Noem.
"I've said that I've lost confidence in her," Murkowski said,
"It is obviously up to the president. I think he would be better served with new leadership at the department," she said.
The GOP-led House Homeland Security Committee announced Tuesday that it scheduled a public hearing on Feb. 10 with senior officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS).
"Transparency and communication are needed to turn the temperature down. Thank you to Secretary Noem and the Department of Homeland Security for making these witnesses available, and I look forward to receiving their testimony," Chairman Andrew Garbarino wrote in a statement announcing the hearing.
The witnesses invited to testify include Todd Lyons, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), DHS; Rodney Scott, Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protect (CBP), DHS; Joseph Edlow, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), DHS.
The same trio is scheduled to testify publicly at the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Feb. 12, according to a post on X from its chairman, Republican Sen. Rand Paul.
