House Democrats hold 'shadow hearings' as they build case to impeach Kristi Noem
House Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee say they've been quietly advancing their impeachment investigation into Secretary Kristi Noem for weeks as a last-resort response to unanswered calls for transparency...
By Fox News · Fox News
House Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee say they've been quietly advancing their impeachment investigation into Secretary Kristi Noem for weeks as a last-resort response to unanswered calls for transparency — even as a growing number of Republicans call for their own investigations into immigration operations. Without control of the committee, Democrats will hold "shadow hearings" to further their case against Noem, a source familiar with their plans told Fox News Digital. "We’ve had two so far; other committees have as well," the source said. In the wake of a confrontation during Homeland Security operations in Minnesota that left Alex Pretti, 37, dead, Democrats are demanding more scrutiny of the agency, which operates Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Noem over the second fatal civilian shooting in under a month. GOP SEN. CASSIDY BREAKS WITH TRUMP OVER DEADLY SHOOTING BY BORDER PATROL AGENT IN MINNEAPOLIS According to DHS officials, agents used lethal force in self-defense. In the view of Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas, a member of the Homeland Security Committee, that characterization fails to explain why it happened. "For months, Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee have tried to get answers. We have sent letters. And we have called for investigations. Every single one of those efforts has been stonewalled by the Trump administration and ignored by Republicans in Congress," Johnson said of requests for information on ICE agent conduct. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., confirmed that Democrats would spearhead impeachment efforts if President Donald Trump didn’t fire Noem. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way," Jeffries said in a statement Tuesday. Democrats have zeroed in on Noem as the focal point of their outrage over ICE operations, while a growing number of Republicans are calling for a ground-level investigation into the agency's conduct. GOP SENATOR DEMANDS DHS IMMIGRATION CHIEFS TESTIFY AFTER FATAL SHOOT…