Democrats threaten Kristi Noem impeachment if Trump doesn’t fire her

House Democratic leaders threatened Tuesday to launch impeachment proceedings against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem if President Donald Trump doesn’t fire her first.

Noem has faced increasing pressure in recent days over comments she made following the death of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti, who was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Party Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar said in their statement, “The violence inflicted on the American people by the Department of Homeland Security must end immediately.” he said.

“Kristi Noem must be removed from office immediately, otherwise we will initiate the impeachment process in the House of Representatives,” the statement said.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

Following Pretti’s killing, Noem claimed she “brandished” a gun and responded “violently” to officers’ attempts to disarm her. These claims were later refuted by video analysis and analysis from many news sources.

On Tuesday, Trump said “no” when a White House reporter asked him if Noem would leave her post.

Trump told reporters ahead of his planned trip to Iowa that Noem “did a very good job.”

The warning from House Democrats comes as a partial government shutdown looms amid concerns about DHS funding.

“Taxpayer dollars are being weaponized by the Trump administration to kill American citizens, brutalize communities, and violently target law-abiding immigrant families. The nation is disgusted by the actions of the Department of Homeland Security,” the leaders said in a statement. he said.

The House last week passed a more than $1.2 trillion spending package that includes funding for DHS and other agencies. But the Senate has until 12:01 a.m. Saturday to pass the bills and fully fund the government.

The killing of Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, sparked outrage among Senate Democrats, who called for the DHS bill to be removed from the larger spending package in exchange for their votes.

Democratic support for spending bills is needed to eliminate the 60-vote filibuster in the Senate.

“Senate Democrats have made clear that we are prepared to quickly advance five appropriations bills, separate from the DHS funding bill, before the January 30 deadline,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Y) said in a statement Monday. he said.

“The responsibility for preventing a partial government shutdown lies with Leader Thune and Senate Republicans,” Schumer said. he said. “If [Majority Leader John] If Thune puts these five bills on the floor this week, we can move them forward immediately. “Otherwise, Republicans will once again be responsible for shutting down the government.”

Trump and the White House this week softened the administration’s stance on Pretti, seemingly backing off previous statements by administration officials such as Trump’s homeland security adviser Stephen Miller calling Pretti a “domestic terrorist.”

“No one in the White House, including President Trump, wants to see people injured or killed on the streets of America,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a news conference Monday. he said.

Still, tensions remain high following the deaths of Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, another citizen killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this month.

DHS recently launched a campaign. immigration enforcement investigation In response to an ongoing social services fraud scandal in Minnesota, he is sending federal agents into the state and targeting thousands of refugees.

Minnesota state officials and congressional Democrats have harshly condemned the tactics used by DHS and ICE, and some congressional Republicans have also called for increased oversight.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. On Monday, he summoned the heads of ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to testify before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which he chairs.

He also called for an “independent investigation” into the shooting.

“This needs to happen immediately. I don’t recall ever hearing a police chief immediately describe the victim as a ‘domestic terrorist’ or a ‘future assassin’.” In a post to Paul X he said: on Tuesday.

“At the very least, an independent investigation is necessary to restore calm,” he wrote.

ICE, CPB and USCIS officials agreed Tuesday to testify at a Feb. 10 hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee.