Kristi Noem Refuses To Apologize For Calling Renee Good And Alex Pretti ‘domestic Terrorists’ - But Says Her ‘heart’ Is With Their Families

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem refused to apologize for labelling 2 American citizens killed by national agents “domestic terrorists” during a heated speech pinch a Democratic lawmaker Wednesday.

At a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Jamie Raskin offered Noem nan chance to reside her past remarks astir Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, and Alex Pretti, an intensive attraction nurse. The 2 American citizens were fatally changeable successful abstracted incidents earlier this twelvemonth by national agents, during nan Trump administration’s migration crackdown successful Minnesota.

“Only a fewer hours aft they were gunned down by your agents, you called Renee a home terrorist,” Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, said. “You said Alex committed an enactment of domestic terrorism.

“I want to springiness a chance earlier nan full state to correct your mendacious and defamatory claim. Based connected what you cognize today, madam secretary, were Renee Good and Alex Pretti home terrorists?”

Noem responded that some incidents were “an absolute tragedy,” prompting Raskin to interject and repetition his question.

“I connection my condolences to their families because I cognize that their lives will ne'er beryllium nan same,” Trump’s Homeland Security secretary said.

She said that she was operating connected accusation from a “chaotic scene” and noted that some deaths are nan taxable of ongoing investigations.

“But you didn’t hold for nan investigation did you?” Raskin responded, again asking whether she would apologize aliases definitive remorse for her remarks.

“I connection my condolences to those families,” she said. “My bosom is pinch them.”

At a Senate Homeland Security Committee proceeding past month, some ICE acting head Todd Lyons, and Customs and Border Protection commissioner Rodney Scott, denied that they aliases their unit utilized nan “domestic terrorist”label to picture Alex Pretti.

“Did you supply Secretary Noem pinch an appraisal of what Mr. Pretti was engaged in, and that he was engaged successful home terrorism?” asked Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, nan committee’s apical Democrat.

Both Lyons and Scott testified that they did not show her that. When asked whether anyone who reports to him provided her pinch that assessment, Scott replied: “Not to my knowledge, sir.”

Later Wednesday, Noem faced questions from Rep. Lou Correa, a California Democrat, who accused national agents of many times asking Americans to nutrient their citizenship documents, creating an ambiance of unease.

“What do you propose I show my citizens backmost home,” Correa said. “Have a passport pinch you each nan time?”

“I would show your citizens to beryllium grateful they unrecorded successful this state wherever President Trump is upholding nan law,” Noem responded. “We will voluntarily thief them aforesaid deport if they would for illustration to.”

“These are American citizens, ma’am,” Correa responded.

On Tuesday, members of nan Senate Judiciary Committee besides berated nan DHS secretary for sticking by her categorization of Good and Pretti arsenic home terrorists, which they slammed arsenic premature and inflammatory.

“The truth you can’t admit to a correction — which looks like, nether investigation, is going to beryllium that Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti astir apt should not person been changeable successful nan look and successful nan back,” Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, said.

“You judge calling nan victims of unit ‘domestic terrorists’ is simply a measurement to calm nan scene?” Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, besides asked.

Some 65 percent of Americans, judge ICE has gone excessively far successful enforcing migration law, according to a caller Marist poll.