U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum Co-Sponsors Articles of Impeachment Against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday afternoon, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D, MN-04) became an original co-sponsor of Congresswoman Robin Kelly’s (D, IL-02) articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. This announcement follows Congresswoman McCollum’s Friday announcement that she would support efforts to impeach Secretary Noem.
“Secretary Noem should be fired, but we know President Trump won’t do that. That’s why I support impeachment by the House and conviction by the Senate for her obstruction of Congress and violation of the public trust,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “Over the past year, Americans in cities across the United States have felt the chaos and terror of Secretary Noem’s Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Secretary Noem has demonstrated that she is unable to enforce immigration law in a peaceful and ethical manner. Her deployment of unprofessional, poorly trained, masked immigration agents has put our neighbors in danger of physical harm. The appalling conduct at ICE and DHS starts with its leadership. Kristi Noem needs to go.”
The Constitution gives the U.S. House of Representatives the sole power of impeachment. Congresswoman McCollum is an original co-sponsor of Congresswoman Kelly’s three articles of impeachment:
1. Obstruction of Congress
Secretary Noem violated her constitutional oath and refused to comply with the law that prohibits the Department of Homeland Security from preventing a Member of Congress from entering a DHS facility used to detain undocumented immigrants. Members of Congress have been denied entry into ICE facilities in Minnesota, Illinois, Texas, Colorado, California, New York, Virginia, and Washington.
2. Violation of Public Trust
Secretary Noem has repeatedly violated the Immigration and Nationality Act, the First Amendments to the United States Constitution, and Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. She’s also violated due process by directing ICE agents to conduct warrantless arrests and use violence against U.S. citizens and lawful residents.
During Secretary Noem’s “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago, federal agents used excessive force, in some cases injuring or killing, residents. Federal agents used military-style tactics to raid an apartment building in South Shore, detaining U.S. citizens for hours without warrants or reason for arrest. These dangerous actions have continued in cities across the country, including in Minneapolis, where Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed without justification.
3. Self-Dealing
Secretary Noem has misused her position for personal gain while inappropriately using $200 million in public funds to award an ad campaign for ICE recruitment. She bypassed the standard competitive bidding process to award a contract to a firm called Strategy Group. Strategy Group was formed just days before the award and is run by the husband of senior DHS official Tricia McClaughlin, a close friend of Secretary Noem.
Read the full text of articles of impeachment here.
There are 70 Members of Congress cosponsoring these articles of impeachment, including all four Democratic members of the Minnesota Congressional delegation: Betty McCollum; Ilhan Omar; Angie Craig; Kelly Morrison; Adriano Espaillat; Alma Adams; April McClain Delaney; Becca Balint; Bonnie Watson Coleman; Brad Sherman; Brittany Pettersen; Chellie Pingree; Danny Davis; Dave Min; Diana DeGette; Doris Matsui; Emily Randall; Eric Sorensen; Eric Swalwell; Gabe Amo; Gabe Vasquez; Gwen Moore; Jan Schakowsky; Jasmine Crockett; Jill Tokuda; Jimmy Gomez; John Larson; Jonathan Jackson; Juan Vargas; Julie Johnson; Kevin Mullin; LaMonica McIver; Lateefah Simon; Laura Friedman; Linda T. Sanchez; Lloyd Doggett; Lori Trahan; Luz Rivas; Mark DeSaulnier; Mark Pocan; Maxine Dexter; Maxwell Frost; Melanie Stansbury; Mike Quigley; Mike Thompson; Nikki Budzinski; Nydia M. Velazquez; Paul Tonko; Pramila Jayapal; Raja Krishnamoorthi; Rashida Tlaib; Ritchie Torres; Rob Menendez; Sarah Elfreth; Sarah McBride; Sean Casten; Seth Moulton; Shontel M. Brown; Shri Thanedar; Steve Cohen; Summer Lee; Suzanne Bonamici; Teresa Leger Fernandez; Tim Kennedy; Val Hoyle; Valerie Foushee; Veronica Escobar; Wesley Bell; Yassamin Ansari; Yvette Clarke.