House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and his leadership deputies on Tuesday issued a warning to President Trump to fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, or Democrats "will commence impeachment proceedings."
Why it matters: The House Democratic leader's new threat comes as support for impeaching Noem is surging among his members, with more than two-thirds of his caucus now co-sponsoring articles of impeachment.
- Jeffries has spent the weeks since the killing of Renée Good deflecting questions about impeachment, telling Axios as recently as last week that "we haven't ruled anything in and we haven't ruled anything out."
- But the killing of Alex Pretti on Saturday supercharged the effort, prompting even some prominent centrist, swing-district and leadership members to sign on.
What they're saying: "Taxpayer dollars are being weaponized by the Trump administration to kill American citizens," Jeffries said in a joint statement with Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).
- They continued: "The violence unleashed on the American people by the Department of Homeland Security must end forthwith. Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives."
- "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."
State of play: House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said in a statement that he will "launch a complete oversight and impeachment inquiry into all potential constitutional crimes committed by Secretary Noem" if Republicans don't.
- The Maryland Democrat said he plans to work in coordination with Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the top Democrats on the Oversight and Homeland Security committees.
- Raskin said the articles of impeachment introduced by Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) have "galvanized" House Democrats, but that "we must build on this resolution, through fact-finding, public hearings, and committee reports."
- Kelly, a member of Jeffries' leadership team, can unilaterally force a House vote on impeaching Noem but has remained conspicuously silent on if or when she might do that.
The other side: Trump said Tuesday that he is not going to oust Noem, telling reporters during a gaggle outside the White House, "I think she's doing a very good job."
- "If Democrats cared this much about deporting violent, criminal illegal aliens, the American people would be much safer," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said.
- A DHS spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The bottom line: Republicans control the House and Senate, and no GOP lawmakers thus far have signaled support for impeaching Noem.
- Even if some House Republicans cross over to vote for Noem's impeachment, it would still face a steep uphill climb in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is needed for conviction.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
