(Washington) Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen is calling for the removal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying she is trying to “mislead the American public” over the shooting death of a 37-year-old protester in Minneapolis.
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This call from Mme Rosen, a Nevada moderate who was part of the group that helped Republicans end the 43-day budget hold last year, comes amid growing anger among congressional Democrats, who have also promised to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
A House resolution to launch impeachment proceedings against Kristi Noem has the support of more than 100 Democrats, but few Democratic senators have yet spoken out.
Kristi Noem has failed miserably at the helm of the Department of Homeland Security over the past twelve months, and the abuse of power we are witnessing from ICE is the latest evidence that she has lost control of her own department and its staff.
Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen
Senator Rosen characterized Mr.me Noem was “deeply ashamed” and said she “must be removed immediately.” Impeachment proceedings are unlikely in the Republican-controlled Congress, but Democrats’ growing outrage over the violence in the streets of Minneapolis risks undermining Senate Republican leaders’ hopes of quickly passing a sweeping budget bill this week and avoiding a partial government shutdown on Jan. 30.
PHOTO MANUEL BALCE CENETA, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen
Moreover, while some moderate Democrats have been reluctant over the past year to criticize the Trump administration on immigration and border issues, the murders of Alex Pretti on Saturday and of Renee Good on January 7 in Minneapolis have transformed the debate, even among moderates like Ms.me Rosen.
Noem defends fatal shootings
Call for impeachment comes after M’s rapid defenseme Noem, without a thorough investigation, into the death of Mr. Pretti, who was shot by a Border Patrol agent. Videos of the scene, viewed by the Associated Press, appear to contradict the Trump administration’s claims that the shots were fired “in self-defense” against Mr. Pretti, who was “approaching” them armed. Mr. Pretti was authorized to carry a concealed weapon, but in the videos he appears to only have a phone in his hand.
During the altercation, the officers discovered that he was in possession of a 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol and opened fire several times, including at Mr. Pretti’s back. The authorities did not specify whether the latter had exhibited his weapon.
Mme Noem said Mr. Pretti showed up to “obstruct a law enforcement operation.”
SCREENSHOT PROVIDED BY AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
One person described seeing Alex Pretti approach, phone in hand, to film an altercation between a group of people and ICE agents, seconds before the shooting.
“It appears that an individual arrived on scene with the intention of causing as much harm as possible and killing police officers,” Kristi Noem said Sunday.
In his request for dismissal of Mme Noem, Mme Rosen discussed other issues beyond the current operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She claimed that Mme Noem had also “abused the public trust by wasting millions of dollars of taxpayer money” on her own promotion and cited reports that the Coast Guard purchased two private jets worth US$172 million from her.
Senate anger over ICE violence
Jacky Rosen’s statement follows that of Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, one of the most left-wing members of the Democratic group in the Senate. Mr. Markey said last week that Congress should initiate impeachment proceedings against Mr.me Noem, “who is currently orchestrating, on the streets of our country, this quasi-justiceism on the part of ICE agents who are terrorizing cities across the country.”
While other senators refrained from calling for the impeachment of Mme Noem, several moderate Democrats, who had voted with Mme Rosen for reopening the government last year, announced they would vote against defunding the Department of Homeland Security this week, even if it would result in a government shutdown.
Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto said the Department of Homeland Security “brutalizes law-abiding American citizens and immigrants.” Virginia Senator Tim Kaine said “these are not normal times.”
While administration officials immediately defended the fatal shootings, several Republicans called for a full investigation, including Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. More and more Democrats in the House of Representatives support the impeachment of Mr.me Noem.
Calls for Kristi Noem’s impeachment have intensified in the House, particularly after a telephone conversation between the Democratic group and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as well as that state’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, both former members of Congress, according to a source familiar with the matter who requested anonymity.
Most of the elected Democrats in the House who spoke at this meeting called for the dismissal of Ms.me Noem, said another source close to the matter, also on condition of anonymity.
New York Rep. Laura Gillen, a Democrat and one of only seven House Democrats to vote to defund the Department of Homeland Security last week, said Sunday: “There needs to be accountability, which is why Secretary Noem must be impeached immediately.” »
“She doesn’t care about security or border protection. She is preoccupied with chaos and self-promotion, undermining the work of local law enforcement and fueling violence,” M wroteme Gillen in a message published on X.
