Fox News anchor presses FBI's Kash Patel over Pretti claims: 'How was he threatening border patrol?'

WASHINGTON, DC: A fatal shooting involving a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis prompted renewed scrutiny of federal law enforcement actions over the weekend, as questions emerged over the circumstances surrounding the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti.

The incident occurred on Saturday, January 24, during a federal operation and drew attention from national media figures, law enforcement officials, and political leaders. Federal authorities defended the actions of the agents involved, while others challenged whether the use of force was justified. 

Maria Bartiromo questions federal claims as local police chief raises alarm

Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo pushed back against assertions made by FBI Director Kash Patel during an interview on 'Sunday Morning Futures', challenging the claim that Pretti posed a threat to Border Patrol agents.

Patel defended the response by federal officers and echoed comments previously made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“Secretary (Kristi) Noem stated perfectly, you do not get to attack law enforcement officials in this country without any repercussions,” Patel said. “You don't get to do that in Minnesota, LA, or anywhere else.”

Patel also questioned Pretti’s intentions, stating, “No one who wants to be peaceful shows up at a protest with a firearm that is loaded with two full magazines. That is not a peaceful protest, and you do not get to touch law enforcement."

"You do that anywhere, this FBI is going to be following, leading the charge to arrest those,” he added.

Bartiromo pressed Patel on how Pretti allegedly threatened agents, pointing to uncertainty around the evidence. “But how was he threatening Border Patrol?!” she asked.

“You’ve collected the evidence, you said, right? You have the handgun in your possession. And how was he using that handgun in terms of threatening Border Patrol? What was the threat? He had his camera, right? He was filming it,” she added.

Following the exchange, Patel adopted a more cautious tone, saying the investigation was being handled by other agencies.

“That’s something that I let the DHS and the prosecutors handle because they are the ones investigating that case, I don’t want to stylize that evidence,” Patel said.

He added that he trusted federal officers “to only use it (force) when it’s absolutely necessary.” 

When Bartiromo questioned whether the firearm was visible before shots were fired, Patel declined to elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation.

He also said that evidence had been sent to an FBI laboratory for forensic analysis, including fingerprinting and ballistics testing.

Border Patrol chief says Minneapolis shooting averted potential ‘massacre’

Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino said on Saturday, that the man shot and killed by a federal agent in Minneapolis appeared intent on causing “maximum damage” and carrying out a “massacre” of law enforcement officers during a targeted immigration operation.

Bovino made the remarks during an afternoon press conference held hours after the fatal shooting.

He said that the agents were conducting a lawful federal operation when the man approached them while armed, prompting a confrontation.

“During this operation, an individual approached US Border Patrol agents with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun,” Bovino stated. 

“The agents attempted to disarm the individual, but he violently resisted. Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, a Border Patrol agent fired defensive shots,” he added.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene despite medics responding immediately, Bovino said.

According to Bovino, the Border Patrol team was in Minneapolis to apprehend a violent illegal immigrant from Ecuador when the situation escalated. He said the man who was shot was not the target of the operation, but disrupted the raid.