Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen is advocating for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, stating that she believes Noem is trying to “mislead the American public” regarding the [incident] of a 37 – year – old protester in Minneapolis.
The call from Rosen, a moderate from Nevada who was part of the group that [did something] last year, comes at a time when [some people] have also vowed to block funding for the Homeland Security Department. A House resolution to initiate impeachment proceedings against Noem has the backing of more than 100 Democrats, but so far, few Senate Democrats have offered their opinions.
“Kristi Noem has been a complete failure in leading the Department of Homeland Security over the past year — and the abuses of power we’re witnessing from ICE are the latest evidence that she has lost control of her own department and staff,” Rosen said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Rosen said Noem’s conduct is “profoundly shameful” and she “must be impeached and removed from office right away.”
Impeachment proceedings are unlikely in the GOP – controlled Congress, but the growing Democratic outrage over the violence in the streets of Minneapolis is sure to disrupt Senate Republican leaders’ hopes this week to quickly approve a comprehensive spending bill and avoid a partial government shutdown on Jan. 30.
And while some moderate Democrats have been [reluctant] to criticize the Trump administration on border and immigration issues, the fatal shootings in Minneapolis of [someone] on Saturday and [someone else] on Jan. 7 have [had an impact], even among moderates like Rosen.
Noem defends fatal shooting
The senator’s call for impeachment followed Noem’s hasty defense, without a full investigation, of the fatal shooting of Pretti by a Border Patrol agent. [Some evidence] seems to contradict the Trump administration’s statements that the shots were fired “defensively” at Pretti as he “approached” them with a gun. Pretti was licensed to carry a concealed weapon, but in the videos, he appears to be holding only a phone.
During the scuffle, agents found that he was carrying a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun and fired several shots, including into his back. Officials did not say whether Pretti brandished the weapon.
Noem said Pretti showed up to “obstruct a law enforcement operation.”
“This appears to be a situation where an individual came to the scene to cause maximum harm to people and to kill law enforcement,” Noem said on Sunday.
In her call for Noem’s impeachment, Rosen cited other issues beyond the current ICE operations. She said Noem has also “violated the public trust by squandering millions of taxpayer dollars” on self – promotion and referred to reports that the Coast Guard bought her two luxury jets worth $172 million.
Senate anger over ICE violence
Rosen’s statement follows that of Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, who is one of the more left – leaning members of the Senate Democratic caucus. Markey said last week that Congress should start impeachment proceedings against Noem, “who is currently orchestrating on the streets of our country what is almost vigilantism on the part of ICE agents terrorizing cities across the country.”
And while other senators stopped short of calling for Noem’s impeachment, [some senators] who voted to reopen the government last year said they would vote against Homeland Security funding this week even if it meant a government shutdown.
Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto said that DHS is “brutalizing U.S. citizens and law – abiding immigrants.” Virginia Senator Tim Kaine said that “we are not living in normal times.”
As administration officials immediately defended the shooting, several Republicans have called for a thorough investigation, including Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
House Democrats increasingly back Noem’s impeachment
Calls for Noem’s impeachment also grew louder in the House as the Democratic caucus had a phone call with Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz and the state’s Attorney General Keith Ellison, both former congressmen, according to a person familiar with the private call who requested anonymity to discuss it.
Most of the House Democratic lawmakers who spoke during the meeting called for Noem’s impeachment, said another person familiar with the call who insisted on anonymity to discuss it.
New York Representative Laura Gillen, a Democrat who was one of only seven House Democrats who [did something], said on Sunday that “there must be accountability, which is why Secretary Noem must be impeached immediately.”
“She is not focused on safety or border security; she’s focused on chaos and self – promotion, undermining local law enforcement and inciting violence as a result,” Gillen said in a post on X.
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AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.