Moderate Sen. Jacky Rosen urges Noem's impeachment as Dem fury grows
over Minneapolis shooting
[January 26, 2026]
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen is calling for the
impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying that she
believes Noem is attempting to "mislead the American public” about the
fatal shooting of a 37 year-old protester in Minneapolis.
The call from Rosen, a moderate from Nevada who was part of the group
that helped Republicans end the 43-day government shutdown last year,
comes amid a growing fury from congressional Democrats who have also
vowed to block funding for the Homeland Security Department. A House
resolution to launch impeachment proceedings against Noem has the
support of more than 100 Democrats, but few Senate Democrats have so far
weighed in.
“Kristi Noem has been an abject failure leading the Department of
Homeland Security for the last year — and the abuses of power we’re
seeing from ICE are the latest proof that she has lost control over her
own department and staff,” Rosen said in a statement to The Associated
Press.
Rosen said Noem's conduct is “deeply shameful” and she "must be
impeached and removed from office immediately.”
Impeachment proceedings are unlikely in the GOP-controlled Congress, but
mounting Democratic outrage over the violence in the streets of
Minneapolis is certain to disrupt Senate Republican leaders’ hopes this
week to quickly approve a wide-ranging spending bill and avoid a partial
government shutdown on Jan. 30.
And while some moderate Democrats have been wary over the last year of
criticizing the Trump administration on border and immigration issues,
the fatal shootings in Minneapolis of Alex Pretti on Saturday and Renee
Good on Jan. 7 have transformed the debate, even among moderates like
Rosen.
Noem defends fatal shooting
The senator's call for impeachment followed Noem’s quick defense,
without a full investigation, of the fatal shooting of Pretti by a
Border Patrol agent. Videos of the scene reviewed by The Associated
Press appear to contradict statements by the Trump administration that
the shots were fired “defensively” against Pretti as he “approached”
them with a gun. Pretti was licensed to carry a concealed weapon, but he
appears to be seen with only a phone in his hand in the videos.
During the scuffle, agents discovered that he was carrying a 9 mm
semiautomatic handgun and opened fire with several shots, including into
his back. Officials did not say if Pretti brandished the weapon.
Noem said Pretti showed up to “impede a law enforcement operation.”
“This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to
inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement,” Noem
said Sunday.
In her call for Noem's impeachment, Rosen cited other issues beyond the
current ICE operations. She said Noem has also “violated the public
trust by wasting millions in taxpayer dollars” on self promotion and
cited reports that the Coast Guard purchased her two luxury jets worth
$172 million.
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a news
conference at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters,
Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree
Nikhinson)
Senate anger over ICE violence
Rosen’s statement follows that of Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, who is
one of the more left-leaning members of the Senate Democratic caucus.
Markey said last week that Congress should begin impeachment proceedings
against Noem, “who is right now actually orchestrating on the streets of
our country this almost vigilantism on the part of ICE agents
terrorizing cities all across the country.”
And while other senators stopped short of calling for Noem's
impeachment, several moderate Democrats who joined Rosen in voting to
reopen the government last year said they would vote against Homeland
Security funding this week even if it meant a government shutdown.
Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said that DHS is “brutalizing U.S.
citizens and law-abiding immigrants." Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said that
“we are not living in normal times.”
As administration officials immediately defended the shooting, several
Republicans have called for a thorough investigation, including Sens.
Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
House Democrats increasingly back Noem's impeachment
Calls for Noem’s impeachment also grew louder in the House as the
Democratic caucus had a phone call with Minnesota’s Gov. Tim Walz and
the state’s Attorney General Keith Ellison, both former congressmen,
according to a person familiar with the private call who requested
anonymity to discuss it.
Most of the House Democratic lawmakers who spoke during the meeting
called for Noem's impeachment, said another person familiar with the
call who insisted on anonymity to discuss it.
New York Rep. Laura Gillen, a Democrat who was one of only seven House
Democrats who voted to fund the Homeland Security Department last week,
said Sunday that “there must be accountability, which is why Secretary
Noem must be impeached immediately.”
“She is not focused on safety or border security; she’s focused on chaos
and self-promotion, undermining local law enforcement and stoking
violence as a result,” Gillen said in a post on X.
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AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
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