Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen is calling for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying she believes Noem is trying to “mislead the American public” about the situation. fatal shot from a 37-year-old protester in Minneapolis.
The call from Rosen, a Nevada moderate who was part of the group that helped Republicans end the 43-day government shutdown last year, comes in the middle of a growing fury from congressional Democrats who also pledged to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security. A House resolution to launch impeachment proceedings against Noem has the support of more than 100 Democrats, but few Senate Democrats have taken a position so far.
“Kristi Noem has been an abject failure at the helm of 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 own department and its staff,” Rosen said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Rosen said Noem’s conduct was “deeply shameful” and that she “must be impeached and removed from office immediately.”
Impeachment proceedings are unlikely in the Republican-controlled Congress, but Democrats’ growing outrage over the violence on the streets of Minneapolis is sure to disrupt Senate Republican leaders’ hopes this week of quickly approving a sweeping spending bill and averting a partial government shutdown on Jan. 30.
And even though some moderate Democrats have been suspicious over the past year to criticize the Trump administration on border and immigration issues, the deadly shootings in Minneapolis Alex Pretti Saturday and Renee Bonne on January 7 transformed the debateeven among moderates like Rosen.
Noem defends fatal shooting
The senator’s call for impeachment followed Noem’s quick defense, without a thorough investigation, of the fatal shooting of Pretti by a Border Patrol agent. Videos from the scene reviewed by The Associated Press appear 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 he appears to be seen with only a phone in his hand in the videos.
During the struggle, officers discovered he was carrying a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and opened fire with several bullets, including in the back. Officials did not say whether Pretti was brandishing the weapon.
Noem said Pretti showed up to “prevent a law enforcement operation.”
“This appears to be a situation where an individual arrived on scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and kill law enforcement,” Noem said Sunday.
In his call for Noem’s impeachment, Rosen cited other problems beyond ICE’s current operations. She said Noem also “violated the public trust by wasting millions of taxpayer dollars” on self-promotion and cited reports that the Coast Guard purchased her two luxury jets worth $172 million.
Senate anger over ICE violence
Rosen’s statement follows that of Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, who is one of the most left-leaning members of the Senate Democratic caucus. Markey said last week that Congress should begin impeachment proceedings against Noem, “who is orchestrating this quasi-vigilante on the streets of our country by ICE agents who are terrorizing cities across the country.”
And while other senators have not called for Noem’s impeachment, several moderate Democrats who joined Rosen Voting to reopen the government last year, they said they would vote this week against defunding Homeland Security, even if it meant a government shutdown.
Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said DHS “brutalizes law-abiding American citizens and immigrants.” Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said “we are not living in normal times.”
While administration officials immediately defended the shooting, several Republicans called for a full investigation, including Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
House Democrats increasingly support Noem’s impeachment
Calls for Noem’s impeachment also intensified in the House as the Democratic caucus held a phone call with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison, both former members of Congress, according to a person familiar with the private call who requested anonymity to discuss it.
Most House Democratic lawmakers who spoke at 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 seven House Democrats to have voted to defund the Department of Homeland Security last weeksaid Sunday that “there must be accountability, which is why Secretary Noem must be removed immediately.”
“She’s not focused on safety or border security; she’s focused on chaos and self-promotion, undermining local law enforcement and thus stoking violence,” Gillen said in an article on X.
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AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.