Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, the senior Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, announced his support Friday for an effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The Mississippi lawmaker said Ms. Noem has “enriched herself” on taxpayers’ dime, ignored Congress’s laws, defied court orders and hindered congressional oversight. He said that amounted to abuse of power and a violation of her oath of office.
“Therefore, we must build a record and begin the process of impeachment. It is not a remedy we pursue lightly, but it is also a duty we cannot ignore. Be assured that accountability is coming,” Mr. Thompson said.
He backed the impeachment resolution introduced this week by Rep. Robin Kelly, Illinois Democrat.
She cited three articles, namely obstruction of Congress, violation of public trust and self-dealing.
Impeachment is unlikely to go anywhere with the GOP in control of the House, but Mr. Thompson’s support for the idea made clear that Ms. Noem will be a target if Democrats gain control of the chamber in November’s elections.
The same situation faced then-Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, President Biden’s DHS chief.
When Republicans won control of the House in the 2022 election, he became a target.
He would go on to be impeached, becoming the first-ever sitting Cabinet official to suffer that ignominy.
Ironically, the charges against him were similar to those Ms. Kelly has aimed at Ms. Noem. He was accused of breach of public trust and refusal to comply with the law.
The Senate, then under the control of Democrats, dismissed the impeachment case against Mr. Mayorkas without holding a trial.
Ms. Noem has brushed aside impeachment talk, saying she is focused on her job.
Anger at Homeland Security has boiled over this month with the slaying of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen who died in a confrontation with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.
Video of that confrontation has deeply divided the country, with President Trump’s supporters saying it showed Good ignore orders to get out of her SUV and lurch the vehicle at the officer, who was justified in firing. Mr. Trump’s opponents say the officer was too quick on the trigger and could have gotten out of the way.
