Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy (R) confronted Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, pressing her over remarks she made about the fatal shooting of anti-ICE protester Alex Pretti and whether she had sought to shift responsibility onto White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
The hearing stemmed from Noem’s January statements labeling Pretti’s actions — and those of another Minneapolis resident, Renee Good — as an “act of domestic terrorism.”
Video evidence and eyewitness accounts later raised questions about the accuracy of those claims, drawing bipartisan criticism.
Kennedy directly challenged Noem on reports suggesting she tried to place blame on Miller.
“What got my attention was that you blamed those statements on Mr. Stephen Miller at the White House. Did you not?” he asked.
Noem denied the allegation, explaining, “No, sir, I did not. Where you’re seeing that is in a news article of anonymous sources… But I’ve never said that at all.”
The senator read from her own recorded remarks on Jan. 27 in which she stated, “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done at the direction of the president and Stephen.”
Kennedy pressed that her statement appeared to publicly place Miller in the line of fire. Noem clarified that she was emphasizing collaboration with senior officials, not attributing blame.
Lawmakers also scrutinized her broader characterization of Pretti and Good.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s (D) criticism of Noem’s language drew attention to the emotionally charged nature of the incidents, but Noem stood firm in her explanation that she was relaying information provided by agents on the ground amid unfolding events.
At the hearing, Noem said she never intended to label the individuals as domestic terrorists in a definitive legal sense, explaining that she said it appeared to be an instance of domestic terrorism based on the best available reports from federal officers at the scene, a point she reiterated under questioning from Democrats.
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin (D) pressed Noem on whether she would retract those statements, noting that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE leadership did not provide intelligence supporting the original characterization, according to Reuters.
Noem defended her reliance on early field reports and emphasized the inherent challenge of responding to rapidly developing situations, asserting her intention was to provide Americans with timely and factual information as it emerged.
Republican senators, including Kennedy, pressed Noem on transparency and accountability, emphasizing that attempts to shift responsibility onto Miller could erode trust in DHS communications.
Kennedy highlighted inconsistencies in statements and the potential political consequences of distancing her office from senior aides, The Daily Caller noted.
Noem reiterated that she worked closely with White House leadership.
“I enjoy working with the president and with Stephen Miller,” she said, adding that her goal was to deliver timely and accurate information to the public.
Despite her assertions, the hearing repeatedly returned to whether her earlier remarks had improperly shifted responsibility.
The exchange showcased the scrutiny DHS faces when high-level officials make statements about sensitive law enforcement incidents.
Lawmakers underscored the need for accuracy and accountability, particularly when public statements concern serious criminal events involving federal agents.
The question of whether Noem sought to shift responsibility onto Miller remained a focal point of the hearing, highlighting internal administration tensions and the political stakes surrounding DHS communications.
The session reinforced concerns about leadership accountability and the importance of precise messaging from top officials during crises.
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