South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem defended ICE officers and criticized Democrats after Rep. Robin Kelly said she would pursue impeachment in response to a fatal Minneapolis shooting. Noem praised law enforcement training and accused critics of politicizing the death of Renee Nicole Good. Kelly called Noem "incompetent" and alleged obstruction of justice, violations of public trust and self-dealing in a Jan. 7 press release. The exchange highlights heated national debate over immigration enforcement and accountability.
Kristi Noem Pushes Back at Democrats After Impeachment Threat Over Minneapolis ICE Shooting
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem participates in a roundtable discussion with local ranchers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees on Jan. 7 in Brownsville, Texas.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem pushed back on Sunday against Democratic critics after an Illinois congresswoman announced plans to pursue impeachment following a fatal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shooting in Minneapolis last week.
Speaking on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures, Noem defended law enforcement officers involved in the incident and praised their training and commitment. "
These law enforcement officers are trained to be in situations that are dangerous, and they rely on that training each and every day to make the right decisions,"she said. "
That's what I'm so grateful for is that we have professionals that stepped up and took an oath to serve this country. The American people support them in that."
Noem criticized Democrats for what she described as politicizing the death of Renee Nicole Good — who was fatally shot by an ICE officer after allegedly accelerating a vehicle toward the officer — and accused some elected officials of using the case to advance an agenda that, in her view, would undermine Americans' freedoms.
"
It's really, really horrific that we have elected officials that are using this as an opportunity to divide, using this to promote an agenda that fundamentally would take away our freedoms and our liberties in this country,"Noem said, adding that political opponents were attempting to divert attention from other controversies.
Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman, is seen in this image taken shortly before she was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.
She also referenced recent headlines involving Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, saying, "
And Gov. Walz's corruption has been exposed. He's being held accountable to it, so he's trying to divert the attention away from him and his failed leadership."
Noem said authorities and her political allies will continue efforts to arrest criminals and hold those who break the law accountable.
Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) announced last week that she intended to press for impeachment proceedings against Noem, calling the governor "an incompetent leader" and "a disgrace to our democracy." In a Jan. 7 press release, Kelly said she was pursuing impeachment on grounds including obstructing justice, violating the public trust and self-dealing.
Kelly accused Noem and ICE of policies and actions that, in her view, have caused harm in multiple cities and rise to the level of impeachable misconduct. "From Chicago to Charlotte to Los Angeles to Minneapolis, Secretary Noem is violating the Constitution while ruining — and ending — lives, and separating families," Kelly said in the statement, framing her announcement as part of a broader effort to hold Noem accountable.
The dispute underscores continuing national tensions over immigration enforcement, use-of-force incidents involving federal officers, and partisan debate about how best to pursue accountability and public safety.
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