Democrats are warming up to the idea of impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in the wake of shootings by immigration agents in Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon.
There had been fringe support for impeaching the DHS secretary, but little appetite for the move among Democratic leadership. However, House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) told Axios the idea has gained traction.
"There's a rising clamor for oversight and potentially impeachment of Secretary Noem after the nightmare in Minneapolis," Raskin said.
Support has shifted quickly in the wake of the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on Wednesday morning in Minneapolis, after which Noem, along with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, blamed the victim and Democratic officials for the mother's death.
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), chair of the center-left New Democrat Coalition, issued a statement Friday warning that he would push for impeachment if Noem is not removed over the ICE and Customs and Border Patrol shootings this week.
"Secretary Noem must resign or be removed from office," Schneider said. "If President Trump refuses to act ... I am prepared to support congressional action, up to and including impeachment, to ensure accountability."
Another Illinois Democrat, Rep. Robin Kelly, accused Noem of "obstruction of justice, violation of public trust, and self-dealing" – to which a DHS spokesperson responded, "How silly during a serious time."
Reps. Emily Randall (D-WA) and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) both told Axios they would co-sponsor Kelly's articles of impeachment, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said she was open to the idea.
"I have to ... take a look at it but I certainly wouldn't rule it out," Ocasio-Cortez said. "When it comes to impeachment, I think a lot of these folks are not fit for office."
However, some Democrats, including Reps. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and John Mannion (D-NY), weren't ready to commit to impeachment, and Raskin and others pointed out the minority party couldn't even hold hearings without some Republican support.
"They've got to be hearing what we're hearing — people are very outraged," said Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), "but I wouldn't put a lot of faith on folks on the other side of the aisle on this."