The escalating crisis in Minneapolis has moved from the streets to the halls of Congress, as top House Democrats on Tuesday issued a blunt ultimatum to President Donald Trump: Fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem immediately or face a swift impeachment inquiry.
The demand follows the fatal weekend shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, at the hands of federal agents. Pretti is the second citizen killed by federal forces in Minnesota this month, following the death of Renée Good on January 7—a pattern that has turned the Twin Cities into a flashpoint for Trump’s aggressive “Operation Metro Surge.”
“Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a joint statement with his top deputies. “The violence unleashed on the American people by the Department of Homeland Security must end forthwith. We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
The ‘Lies’ and the Video Evidence
The fury on Capitol Hill centers not just on the killings, but on what Democrats characterize as a coordinated “disinformation campaign” by Secretary Noem. In the hours after Pretti’s death, Noem claimed he had “approached officers with a 9mm handgun” and intended to “massacre law enforcement.”
However, multiple witness videos—now widely circulated—appear to show Pretti was disarmed and pinned to the ground by at least six agents before the fatal shots were fired.
“You can see with your own eyes that Kristi Noem is lying,” Senator Elizabeth Warren said in a viral video address Monday. “Alex Pretti wasn’t a terrorist. He was a VA nurse. His last words were ‘Are you okay?’ to a woman agents had pushed to the ground. Enough.”
A Defiant Secretary and a Divided GOP
Despite the outcry, Secretary Noem remains dug in. In a series of defiant press appearances, she has accused the victims of “domestic terrorism” and blamed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for “inciting resistance” against lawful federal orders.
While Trump publicly backed Noem on Tuesday, calling her performance “very good,” there are signs of fraying loyalty within his own party:
- The ‘Border Czar’ Pivot: Trump has already shifted operational control in Minneapolis away from Noem’s direct reports, handing it to “border czar” Tom Homan.
- Republican Dissent: Senator John Curtis (R-UT) criticized Noem’s “premature” response, while Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) called for a complete “stand-down” of operations in her home state.
- The Fetterman Factor: In a rare move, moderate Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) made a “direct appeal” to Trump to fire Noem, comparing her “gross incompetence” to the Republican critiques of former Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
The Looming Impeachment
If Trump refuses to act, Democrats are prepared to move. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) has already introduced an impeachment resolution that has gained more than 140 Democratic co-sponsors.
The Democratic Strategy:
- Impeachment: Move articles through the House Judiciary Committee, led by ranking member Jamie Raskin.
- Funding Freeze: Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, have vowed to block a $64 billion DHS funding bill unless it strips $10 billion earmarked for ICE’s interior enforcement.
- Judicial Oversight: Pushing for a 24/7 independent monitor of federal agent movements in “sanctuary cities.”
A City in Wait
As the political war rages in D.C., Minneapolis remains under a “fragile truce.” While some federal agents began a tactical withdrawal on Tuesday following a tense phone call between Trump and Governor Walz, the underlying mission of “Metro Surge” remains in place.
For the family of Alex Pretti, the political maneuvering in Washington is cold comfort. “They called my son an assassin while he lay in the morgue,” said his father, Michael. “No resignation can fix that lie.”