THOMPSON BACKS IMPEACHMENT OF KRISTI NOEM: “SECRETARY NOEM ISN'T JUST INCOMPETENT — SHE'S VIOLATING THE LAW”

Washington, D.C - Following the death of Renee Good at the hands of an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) has joined Rep. Robin Kelly and 68 other Democratic colleagues to introduce articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

"Like so many Americans, I am sickened by ICE's killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis." said Thompson. "Unfortunately, this is the latest in a long list of failures from Secretary Noem. It's clear that Secretary Noem isn't just incompetent - she's violating the law. Enough is enough. I support my colleague Rep. Robin Kelly's efforts to impeach Secretary Noem for her obstruction of justice, violation of public trust, and self-dealing."

"Secretary Noem has brought her reign of terror to Chicago, LA, Minneapolis, and communities from north to south, east to west. She needs to be impeached for her actions," said Rep. Kelly at a press conference introducing articles of impeachment. "Secretary Noem has called my impeachment effort 'silly.' I want to tell her right now: You have violated your oath of office and there will be consequences. I am watching you. The American people are watching you. And most of all, we are not liking what we are seeing. If you believe impeachment is 'silly,' then you are not taking your job or our Constitution seriously."

BACKGROUND

The Constitution gives the U.S. House sole power of impeachment. Democrats introduced 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.

Rep. Kelly has tried to enter the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois, but was denied, despite following Secretary Noem's unlawful seven-day notice. There's been documentation of six other instances in which Members of Congress have tried to enter an ICE facility and been denied in 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 and Fourth Amendments of the United States Constitution. She's also broken due process by directing ICE to conduct warrantless arrests and use violence against US citizens and lawful individuals.

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 by ICE.

3. Self-Dealing

Secretary Noem has misused her position for personal gain while inappropriately using $200 million taxpayer dollars to fund an ad campaign for ICE recruitment. She bypassed the normal 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.

In Addition to Rep. Thompson and Rep. Kelly, there are 68 other Members of Congress cosponsoring these articles of impeachment: Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Alma Adams; Angie Craig; April McClain Delaney; Becca Balint; Betty McCollum; 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; Ilhan Omar; Jan Schakowsky; Jasmine Crockett; Jill Tokuda; Jimmy Gomez; John Larson; Jonathan Jackson; Juan Vargas; Julie Johnson; Kelly Morrison; 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; 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.