House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his leadership team voiced support Tuesday for impeaching Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem.
Nearly 150 House Democrats have sponsored articles of impeachment against Noem, first unveiled by Democratic Illinois Rep. Robin Kelly on Jan. 14, but Jeffries had not previously backed the impeachment push. Jeffries vowed Tuesday that House Democrats will launch impeachment proceedings against Noem if President Donald Trump does not fire her.
Jeffries’ statement appeared to cite the two killings of U.S. citizens by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in January. Noem’s response to the fatal shootings has sparked Democrats’ ire with lawmakers ranging from the party’s moderate wing to its far-left flank calling for her immediate ouster.
“The violence unleashed on the American people by the Department of Homeland Security must end forthwith,” Jeffries said in a joint statement with House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and caucus chair Pete Aguilar. “Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives.”
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Jeffries continued.
Jeffries acknowledged in December that any impeachment push is likely to be dead on arrival in the Republican-controlled House.
“Republicans will never allow articles of impeachment to be brought to the floor of the House of Representatives, and we know that’s the case,” Jeffries said when asked if Democrats would pursue impeachment against Trump officials over the administration’s Venezuelan boat strike campaign.
Kelly said Monday that 146 Democrats — more than two-thirds of the House Democratic caucus — have cosponsored her articles of impeachment against Noem.
She could unilaterally trigger a vote on the impeachment articles as soon as the House returns to Washington next week, but the Illinois Democrat has not shared her plans.
Kelly is notably running in a three-way March primary to succeed Senate Democratic Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who is retiring at the end of his term.
Trump notably defended Noem when speaking to reporters on Tuesday, saying, “I think she’s doing a very good job.”
Noem is expected to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in early March.
“While ICE officers are facing a staggering 1,300% spike in assaults, too many politicians would rather defend criminals and attack the men and women who are enforcing our laws and did nothing while Joe Biden facilitated an invasion of tens of millions of illegal aliens into our country,” a DHS spokesperson said in response to Jeffries’ statement.
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