Raskin levels 'cover-up' charge at Noem as Minneapolis deaths spark explosive clash

WASHINGTON, DC: A House Judiciary Committee hearing erupted into a heated confrontation on Wednesday, March 4, as Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md) accused Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of orchestrating a "cover-up" regarding the deaths of two individuals shot by federal agents in Minneapolis.

Raskin pointedly told Noem that out of the three homicides in Minneapolis in 2026, her agents were responsible for two of them.

The exchange set a combative tone for the oversight testimony, with Raskin questioning the department's transparency and Noem fiercely defending her record against what she characterized as falsehoods.

The dispute centered on the federal response to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Federal agents accused of barring investigators

Representative Raskin alleged that, rather than cooperating with state and local authorities to solve the Minneapolis homicides, Noem's department actively barred Minnesota investigators from the crime scenes.

He further claimed that DHS was denying local officials access to all evidence related to the deaths of their citizens.

"It smells like a cover-up," Raskin stated during his opening remarks, adding that the lack of cooperation made him wonder who "the real domestic" radicals were.

These allegations follow reports from January, in which the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension stated that federal investigators had cut them out of the probe into Renee Good's death.

Allegations of DHS officials lying in court

Raskin’s critique extended beyond the crime scenes as he accused DHS officials serving under Noem of systemic dishonesty. He asserted that in dozens of cases, federal judges had found that department officials lied to them in court.

The Maryland congressman pointed to public statements from federal judges who had rebuked DHS officials in various immigration cases both in Minnesota and across the country.

These rebukes have fueled Democratic concerns regarding the department's respect for the rule of law under Noem's leadership.

Secretary Kristi Noem slams ranking member's 'political potshots'

Secretary Noem responded by accusing Raskin of sharing "falsehoods and lies" in his opening statement. She dismissed his allegations as "political potshots" and insisted that her primary focus was on doing the right thing to defend families and remember their children.

Noem maintained that her role involved telling the stories of these families and ensuring the department's actions were focused on their defense.

She did not specifically address the evidence-sharing claims during this exchange, focusing instead on the characterization of Raskin's remarks as politically motivated.

Scrutiny over luxury jet and commercials

The hearing also touched on department spending, with Raskin slamming Noem for seeking to purchase a $70 million luxury jet. While Noem had stated the aircraft will be renovated for deportation flights, Raskin characterized it as an unnecessary luxury.

Additionally, Raskin criticized the secretary for spending millions of dollars in department funds on commercials that prominently featured her. 

These spending priorities were cited by the congressman as further evidence of what he described as the department's questionable management under Noem.