Newsweek: Kristi Noem Impeachment Ramps Up as Senator Markey Backs Effort
January, 15th 2025
By Jason Lemon
WASHINGTON — Senator Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, has come out in favor of impeaching Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, after a group of House Democrats introduced three articles of impeachment against her on Wednesday.
"No funding for ICE. Impeach Kristi Noem now. Hold Trump and his lackeys accountable for the violence and terror being inflicted all across our country," Markey wrote in an X post Wednesday evening.
DHS previously told Newsweek that the Democratic effort is "silly." In a further statement after articles were officially announced, DHS told Newsweek that ICE is enforcing the law and "if members [of Congress] don't like the law, it is quite literally their job to change it."
Why It Matters
The shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good at the hands of a federal agent identified as Jonathan E. Ross in Minneapolis on January 7 has sparked criticism and scrutiny from the public and officials over the conduct of ICE agents. Noem, Trump and their supporters have pushed back on this, saying that the agent was acting in self-defense.
The Democratic impeachment effort is unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled House and would face an even tougher path to success in the GOP-controlled Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required for conviction.
What to Know
In his Wednesday evening post, Markey also posted a clip from an interview on All in With Chris Hayes on MS Now, in which he explained why he opposes funding for ICE and backs impeaching Noem.
"We can't reauthorize, reappropriate funding for ICE. We just can't do that," the Democratic Senator said. "First of all, the funding is coming from cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency."
"We just absolutely have to draw the line," he said. "And not only say no funding for ICE, but we should begin an impeachment proceeding of Kristi Noem, who is right now actually orchestrating on the streets of our cities this almost vigilantism on the part of ICE agents terrorizing cities all across the country, with right now Minneapolis being the prime example."
Articles of Impeachment Against Kristi Noem
Representative Robin Kelly, an Illinois Democrat, is leading the effort to impeach the DHS secretary with the support of 70 House Democrats as of Thursday. The articles introduced on Wednesday aim to impeach Noem for 1) "Obstruction of Congress," 2) "Violation of Public Trust," and 3) "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," Kelly said at a press conference with other cosponsors.
"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.
Full List of Democrats Signed on to Articles of Impeachment Against Noem
Here is the full list of House Democrats who have signed on to the articles of impeachment:
- Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)
- Alma Adams (NC-12)
- Angie Craig (MN-02)
- April McClain Delaney (MD-06)
- Becca Balint (VT-AL)
- Betty McCollum (MN-04)
- Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)
- Brad Sherman (CA-32)
- Brittany Pettersen (CO-07)
- Chellie Pingree (ME-01)
- Danny Davis (IL-07)
- Dave Min (CA-47)
- Diana DeGette (CO-01)
- Doris Matsui (CA-07)
- Emily Randall (WA-06)
- Eric Sorensen (IL-17)
- Eric Swalwell (CA-14)
- Gabe Amo (RI-01)
- Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)
- Gwen Moore (WI-04)
- Ilhan Omar (MN-05)
- Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)
- Jasmine Crockett (TX-30)
- Jill Tokuda (HI-02)
- Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)
- John Larson (CT-01)
- Jonathan Jackson (IL-01)
- Juan Vargas (CA-52)
- Julie Johnson (TX-32)
- Kelly Morrison (MN-03)
- Kevin Mullin (CA-15)
- LaMonica McIver (NJ-10)
- Lateefah Simon (CA-12)
- Laura Friedman (CA-30)
- Linda T. Sanchez (CA-38)
- Lloyd Doggett (TX-37)
- Lori Trahan (MA-03)
- Luz Rivas (CA-29)
- Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10)
- Mark Pocan (WI-02)
- Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
- Maxwell Frost (FL-10)
- Melanie Stansbury (NM-01)
- Mike Quigley (IL-05)
- Mike Thompson (CA-04)
- Nikki Budzinski (IL-13)
- Nydia Velazquez (NY-07)
- Paul Tonko (NY-20)
- Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)
- Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08)
- Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)
- Ritchie Torres (NY-15)
- Rob Menendez (NJ-08)
- Sarah Elfreth (MD-03)
- Sarah McBride (DE-AL)
- Sean Casten (IL-06)
- Seth Moulton (MA-6)
- Shontel Brown (OH-11)
- Shri Thanedar (MI-13)
- Steve Cohen (TN-09)
- Summer Lee (PA-12)
- Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
- Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03)
- Tim Kennedy (NY-26)
- Val Hoyle (OR-04)
- Valerie Foushee (NC-04)
- Veronica Escobar (TX-16)
- Wesley Bell (MO-01)
- Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03)
- Yvette Clarke (NY-09)
What People Are Saying
A DHS spokesperson told Newsweek: "How silly during a serious time. As ICE officers are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them, Rep. Kelly is more focused on showmanship and fundraising clicks than actually cleaning up her crime-ridden Chicago district. We hope she would get serious about doing her job to protect American people, which is what this Department is doing under Secretary Noem."
An additional DHS statement to Newsweek: "DHS is a law enforcement agency—enforcing the rule of law passed by Congress. If members don't like the law, it is quite literally their job to change it."
Representative Becca Balint, a Vermont Democrat, on X: "ICE misused deadly force on Nicole Renee Good, and Noem defended it with lies. I just signed legislation to impeach her."
What Happens Next
It's unclear when the articles of impeachment may proceed in the House; however, they are unlikely to succeed given the current dynamics of the legislative body. Protests against ICE and the Trump administration are expected to continue in Minnesota and across the country.
