Aaron Schwatz/AP Images of the CIAs
A number of congressional Republicans are demanding answers after the shooting of a 37-year-old man Alex Pretty by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on Saturday, even as they reflexively support the Trump administration
The Trump administration came out reeling after the news broke that Pretti had succumbed to his injuries. During a press conference on Saturday evening, the Secretary of Internal Security Kristi Noem described the incident as follows: “The officers tried to disarm this individual but the armed suspect reacted violently. Fearing for his life and the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots.”
“It appears a situation where an individual has arrived on the scene to cause maximum damage to individuals and kill law enforcement,” she added. Noem’s claims have come under severe scrutiny in the hours since she made them, with many arguing that the video of the incident contradicts her version of events.
The videos even forced a number of Republican lawmakers with different views to speak out.
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), whose primary challenger has been endorsed by the President Donald Trump, he wrote that “The events in Minneapolis are incredibly disturbing. The credibility of ICE and DHS is at stake. There must be a full joint federal and state investigation. We can trust the American people with the truth.”
Chairman of the House Security Committee Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) announced that he was formally requesting that the Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd LyonsCommissioner of Customs and Border Protection Rodney Scottand Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services Joseph Edlow to testify in a hearing that “provides an opportunity to conduct oversight of each agency and ensure that they are fulfilling their duty to protect the homeland.”
“As chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, my top priority remains keeping Americans safe and ensuring that the Department of Homeland Security can fulfill its core mission,” Garbarino said. “I take my oversight duties for the department seriously, and Congress has an important responsibility to ensure the safety of law enforcement and the people they serve and protect.”
Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) praised Garbarino for taking action.
“I am disturbed by what I saw from today’s video from Minnesota. It is very important that the American people and Congress are given a better understanding of how immigration enforcement is being handled, including the methods federal law enforcement officers are using to prioritize, identify and arrest suspected targets, the training they are receiving, the implementation of body cameras and the challenges they face. the operations caused by body cameras, cities and states,” he claimed. “I commend the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee for quickly calling a full committee hearing. Once again I urge ALL public officials to make responsible, fact-based, non-inflammatory statements.”
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), meanwhile, took a different approach.
“The governor and the rhetoric of local leaders have empowered criminals and put the lives of federal law enforcement at risk. It is dangerous and has made the situation in Minneapolis much worse,” submitted Emmer. “Unlike my Democratic colleagues, I will let law enforcement conduct their investigation and not jump to asinine conclusions. We are thankful no Border Patrol officers were injured.”
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) had a similar reaction.
“An armed man attempting to impede a lawful arrest is a recipe for disaster. I expect law enforcement officers to use good judgment. But not to foolishly risk their lives or the lives of others. In regards to the recent tragic shooting in Minnesota where Border Patrol agents used deadly force against an armed protester attempting to impede direct arrest and heat is a lawful result of the arrest. a reaction to ICE—who are simply trying to enforce the law in sanctuary cities,” Graham wrote. “You have every right to protest and you have every right to disagree with President Trump. No one has the right to impede law enforcement officers from carrying out their duties. If you go to events like this with a loaded gun, bad things can happen. The facts will be fully investigated, but for me as a defense attorney and prosecutor who has been around law enforcement and border police that you have pressure on the border, law enforcement and ICE you have extreme pressure agents are under in sanctuary cities.”
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) attacked an assistant US attorney who suggested that “If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high probability that they will be legally justified in shooting you.”
“Carrying a firearm is not a death sentence, it is a protected Constitutional right given by God, and if you don’t understand that you have no business in law enforcement or in government,” Massie told him.
And Rep. Brad Finstand (R-MN) considered Pretti’s death a “tragedy”.
“We have to call ourselves to be the adults in the room, to start listening to each other, not just tearing each other down,” said Finstand.
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The post ‘Incredibly disturbing’: This is how the GOP Leaders are reacting to the Shooting of Alex Pretti first appeared on Mediaite.