Top House Dems Demand Joint Hearing with Bondi, Noem Following DOJ, DHS Clear Abuse of Power in Minnesota
“The Attorney General’s ransom note proves the deployment of federal law enforcement has nothing to do with domestic security or executing the law.”
WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Joe Morelle (NY-25) and Bennie Thompson (MS-02), the Democratic leaders of the Committees on House Administration and Homeland Security, respectively, demanded a joint hearing featuring Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on the Trump Administration’s pretextual use of federal law enforcement to shake down the State of Minnesota in service of the President’s political interests.
“The Trump Administration has used its immigration and law enforcement powers as a pretext to unleash violence against the American public; the Committees must ensure the Administration does not use its immigration and law enforcement powers as a predicate to attack Americans’ right to vote,” wrote the Ranking Members.
Following the murder of Alex Pretti by federal officers in Minneapolis, Attorney General Bondi indicated that the ongoing, so-called immigration enforcement action in the state would cease in exchange for certain actions by Minnesota, including the provision of state voter information to the federal government—information that has nothing to do with immigration enforcement.
“[T]he Attorney General’s ransom note proves the deployment of federal law enforcement has nothing to do with domestic security or executing the law and everything to do with the President’s political interests,” continued the Ranking Members. “The Attorney General is attempting to use federal agents as a political weapon to extort the lawful government of an American state, and the Secretary is her co-conspirator. The Trump Administration acts as though it is a criminal syndicate: Minnesotans are literally held at gunpoint as hostages that Attorney General would barter for voter information.”
Morelle and Thompson argue in the letter that the Trump Administration’s transgressions fit into a broader, distressing pattern among complicit House Republicans who routinely disseminate misinformation about the security of American elections. These actions, including those ranging from the SAVE Act to the weaponization of DOJ against election officials, are attempts by the Trump Administration to manipulate its law enforcement power to interfere in American elections.
Earlier this month, President Trump confirmed that he regrets not using federal power to seize state voting machines in 2020. If he is willing to turn DHS weapons against American citizens, he is certainly willing use his power to subvert the law to retain political power.
“The Committees must demand answers and accountability from the Executive Branch. The American people must know what further abuses of law enforcement the President has planned, including as we go into an election year,” added the Ranking Members.
Click here to read today’s letter to Chairs Steil and Garbarino.
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