In a statement Sunday, January 25, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced, “Donald Trump’s leader of the Department of Homeland Security has proven to be unable and unwilling to follow the law to stop these killings”.
She continued, “Kristi Noem has forfeited her right to lead, and I’m calling on her to resign as Secretary of Homeland Security, or Donald Trump to do the right thing and just fire her. And if not, she must be removed or impeached. And Gregory Bovino, who has helped lead and defend and escalate these operations, should also be fired”.
This call for removal comes after the second fatal shooting of a civilian in Minneapolis. On Saturday, January 24, less than 3 weeks after the death of Renee Nicole Good, ICE agents killed Alex Jeffery Pretti. Pretti was a 37-year-old ICU nurse who worked at the Minneapolis VA hospital.
In her statement to the public addressing the situation, Kristi Noem defended the killing, saying, “I don’t know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign”. She continued, “This is a violent riot when you have someone showing up with weapons and are using them to assault law enforcement officers”.
Following the event, the Department of Homeland Security publicly stated that the agents responsible were acting in self-defence while trying to disarm Pretti. However, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz disputed the account. Pretti had a permit to carry the firearm, and Minnesota is an open-carry state. Also, according to eye witness testimony and video recordings of the event, Pretti was successfully disarmed before being shot.
Hochul continued her statement, “Kristi Noem has referred to these peaceful protesters as ‘domestic terrorists,’ and lied about the shooting victims being the aggressors. She has shown a profound disregard for human life”.
Governor Hochul is not the only one to call for Noem’s resignation after Pretti’s killing. California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a social media post, “No more funding… Kristi Noem must RESIGN… Greg Bovino must be FIRED”.
Hochul concluded her statement with, “It’s a shame I have to say this in America, but no one is above the law, no one. Not an ICE agent, not a federal officer, not the president of the United States. And make no mistake, when these people who have abused the power entrusted to them by their offices are finally out of power, states including New York, will hold them accountable”.
