U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin says she would support impeaching DHS Secretary Kristi Noem after Alex Pretti was shot and killed by the U.S. Border Patrol in Minneapolis over the weekend.
Baldwin, D-Madison, yesterday criticized the head of Homeland Security for labeling as domestic terrorists both Pretti and Renée Good, who was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis earlier this month.
“She has overseen an agency that has been responsible for two out of the three homicides in the city this year. She has lied to the American public about what we’ve seen with our very own eyes, creating a narrative to her liking, but not reflecting the truth. If those are not things that should be subject to impeachment, I don’t know what are,” Baldwin said. “She should be fired, she should resign, she has got to go. And if impeachment is the way to do it, I’d support it.”
Following the shootings of Pretti and Good, Senate Democrats have vowed to oppose additional DHS funding without new restrictions on the agency. That opens the door to a possible partial government shutdown on Saturday, with senators set to take up a package of government funding bills later this week, including DHS funding.
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Baldwin has said she won’t support funding for DHS “without clear accountability and stronger controls over the agency.” During today’s call, Baldwin raised concerns about agents not having body cameras and identifying markers, such as badges, and about some officers concealing their faces or entering community spaces like schools or places of worship.
She also emphasized the importance of independent investigations into the shootings, including federal collaboration with local and state law enforcement agencies.
Amid criticism of the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, the Trump administration this week sent border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis to meet with state leaders and report directly to President Donald Trump. Several prominent media outlets have also reported that Gregory Bovino, who serves as Border Patrol commander at large, is being removed from his position.
Trump yesterday said he wants to see a “very honorable and honest investigation” into Pretti’s killing and called it a “very sad situation.” He also praised Noem, saying, “I think she’s doing a very good job.”
A state GOP spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment on Baldwin’s remarks.
