WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Jackie Rosen is calling for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem, saying Noem is trying to “mislead the American people” about the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old protester in Minneapolis.
The call by Rosen, a Nevada moderate who was part of a group that helped Republicans end a 43-day government shutdown last year, comes amid growing anger from congressional Democrats who have vowed to freeze funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The House proposal to start impeachment proceedings against Noem has the support of more than 100 Democrats, but few Senate Democrats have weighed in so far.
“Christy Noem has been an abject failure to lead the Department of Homeland Security over the past year — and the abuse of power we’re seeing from ICE is the latest evidence that she’s lost control of her own department and staff,” Rosen said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Rosen said Noem’s conduct was “deeply shameful” and that he “should be impeached and removed from office immediately.”
Impeachment proceedings are unlikely in the GOP-controlled Congress, but growing Democratic outrage over the violence on the streets of Minneapolis is sure to hamper Senate Republican leaders’ hopes this week of quickly approving a sweeping spending bill and avoiding a partial government shutdown on Jan. 30.
And while some moderate Democrats have been wary over the past year of criticizing the Trump administration on border and immigration issues, the fatal shootings of Alex Pretty in Minneapolis on Saturday and Renee Goode on Jan. 7 have transformed the debate, even among moderates like Rosen.
Noem defends the fatal shooting
After Noem’s quick defense of calls for the senator’s impeachment, a Border Patrol agent shot Pretty, without a full investigation. Videos of the scene reviewed by The Associated Press appear to contradict the Trump administration’s statement that shots were fired “defensively” against Pretty as he “approached” them with a gun. Pretty was licensed to carry a concealed weapon, but is seen in the video with only a phone in her hand.
During the standoff, agents discovered he was carrying a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and fired several shots, including in his back. Authorities did not say whether Pretty brandished a weapon.
Noem said Pretty appeared to “obstruct law enforcement operations.”
“This appears to be a situation where a person rushed to the scene to do maximum damage to people and kill law enforcement,” Noem said Sunday.
In his call for Noem’s impeachment, Rosen cited other issues outside of current ICE operations. She said Noem had “violated the public trust by wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on his promotion” and cited a report that the Coast Guard bought two of his luxury jets for $172 million.
Senate outraged over ICE violence
Rosen’s statement followed that of Massachusetts Sen. 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 actually on the streets of our country with this almost vigilante ICE agent terrorizing cities across the country.”
And while other senators stopped short of calling for Nome’s impeachment, several moderate Democrats who joined Rosen in voting to reopen the government last year said they would vote against funding the homeland security this week if it meant a government shutdown.
Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said DHS is “cruelizing American citizens and law-abiding immigrants.” Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said that “we are not living in normal times.”
After administration officials quickly defended the firing, several Republicans called for a thorough investigation, including Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
House Democrats increasingly support Noem’s impeachment
Calls for Noem’s impeachment also echoed in the House as the Democratic caucus held phone calls with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison, both former congressmen.
Most of the House Democratic lawmakers who spoke at the meeting called for Noem’s impeachment, another person familiar with the call said on condition of anonymity to discuss it.
New York Rep. “There needs to be accountability, so Secretary Noem needs to be impeached immediately,” Laura Gillen said Sunday.
“She’s not focused on security or border security; she’s focused on anarchy 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.
