(Adnkronos) – The political pressure around Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security in the Trump administration, shows no sign of abating. She found herself in a storm after the killings in Minneapolis of two American citizens – Renée Good and Alex Pretti – by federal agents. Democrats have launched a parliamentary offensive that could lead to an impeachment attempt, reports the Washington Post, while calls for her resignation and independent investigations into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are growing.
In the House, Democrats have announced the opening of a formal inquiry into the management of the DHS, to be conducted even without the involvement of Republicans, who are accused of insufficient oversight of the executive’s actions. According to Politico, at least 140 representatives have already signed a resolution calling for Noem’s impeachment, a number that significantly increased after the death of Pretti, a nurse at a veterans’ hospital killed by gunfire from Border Patrol agents. The text, presented by Representative Robin Kelly, accuses the Secretary of “obstruction of Congress,” “breach of public trust,” and “betrayal of the oath of office.”
In the Democrats’ sights are not only the management of field operations but also the Secretary’s words, accused of providing a misleading account of the facts. In a press conference after the shooting, Noem stated that “the armed suspect reacted violently” and that “fearing for his own life and that of his colleagues, an agent fired defensive shots,” going so far as to define the episode as an “act of domestic terrorism” and claiming that Pretti had “attacked the agents” or “wielded a gun.” However, the versions provided by the former South Dakota governor were not corroborated by videos circulated on social media, so much so that even the White House did not confirm her version. Similar controversies had already accompanied statements about Renée Nicole Good, described by Noem as responsible for an act of “domestic terrorism” after allegedly attempting, according to the Secretary, to run over an agent with an SUV.
The criticisms have translated into an ever-increasing number of explicit calls for her removal. “Kristi Noem should resign, and if she doesn’t, Congress should impeach her and remove her from office. These lies must end,” declared Senator Elizabeth Warren. Representative Don Beyer accused the DHS of “killing American citizens” and Noem of “obstructing local authorities investigating two murders,” while Robin Kelly responded to the Secretary’s accusations of a “ridiculous initiative” by explaining that “she violated her oath and there will be consequences.”
The White House also showed much more caution compared to Noem’s hardline stance, and while not directly refuting her, it merely reiterated the defense of the agents and announced an “ongoing review,” while the DHS and FBI investigation remains internal, in the face of growing bipartisan pressure to entrust it to an independent body. Noem is expected on March 3 before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a hearing that promises to be particularly sensitive.
