Newsmax viewers treated to Senate Republican's fiery takedown of Kristi Noem's DHS

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) called out the Department of Homeland Security's lies about the shooting of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, during a segment on the far-right Newsmax network's "Rob Schmitt Tonight."

Paul, who has emerged as a frequent critic of some of President Donald Trump's more bizarre and authoritarian policies, specifically laid into the excuse that Pretti was armed with a legally licensed gun, and the false claim that he drew his weapon.

"In this case, it's important to know he didn't draw his weapon," Paul told Schmitt. "They said he brandished his weapon. That is not true. If you keep saying things that are not true, you're going to encourage more of this crap."

However, Paul took a moment to also aim a swipe at Democratic politicians in Minnesota for not committing their own resources to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the first place — something they have no constitutional obligation to do.

"Does Minnesota need to cooperate? Without question, the sanctuary city policy is part of the problem as well," he said.

Trump has been accused of targeting Minnesota with a surge of federal agents in part as revenge on Democratic politicians who oppose his policies — and at least one analyst thinks Trump's morning rants against Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey could provide powerful evidence for this in an ongoing legal case.