Ron Johnson demands accountability from Minnesota AG Ellison over Pretti, Good deaths

WASHINGTON, DC: A Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on Thursday, February 12, turned combative as Republican lawmakers sharply criticized Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison over fatal immigration enforcement shootings and an alleged fraud scheme involving federal social service funds.

Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis) accused Ellison of bearing responsibility for the deaths of two Minneapolis residents during federal operations. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo) separately alleged that Ellison enabled a massive fraud operation and called for his resignation. Ellison denied the accusations, calling them false.

Ron Johnson blames AG Keith Ellison for fatal ICE shootings

During the hearing, Johnson confronted Ellison over the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were fatally shot last month by federal officers during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis conducted under the Trump administration.

“Attorney General, you did the exact opposite and two people are dead because you encouraged them to put themselves in harm’s way,” Johnson said.

Ellison rejected the accusation.

“Everything you said was untrue,” he responded. “It was a nice theatrical performance, but it was all lies.”

The exchange came amid broader debate over the administration’s expanded immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota.

The Department of Homeland Security launched a large-scale operation in the state following a federal investigation into the alleged theft of funds allocated for social service programs.

Ellison told lawmakers that the immigration surge had negatively affected ongoing legal work in Minnesota.

“The surge has hurt the fight against fraud,” he said. “Because of it, a wave of experienced prosecutors have left the US Attorney’s Office in Minnesota, and the remaining staff are now drowning in a flood of habeas corpus petitions.”

He also criticized the federal enforcement operation more broadly, stating, “This war on Minnesota is retribution, to be sure.” 

Josh Hawley accuses Ellison of enabling fraud and calls for resignation

Later in the hearing, Hawley engaged in a heated exchange with Ellison over the alleged fraud scheme involving 'Feeding Our Future', an organization accused of misusing approximately $250 million in taxpayer funds.

“You’ve been right at the center of this project from the beginning, and you’ve enabled it, and you should resign,” Hawley said.

Ellison fired back, saying, “You should resign. I was thinking the same thing about you.”

Hawley escalated his criticism, stating, “You helped fraudsters defraud your state and this government of $9 billion, and you got a campaign contribution out of it. You ought to be indicted.”

He referenced $10,000 in campaign donations reportedly linked to individuals associated with the fraud case. “You took $10,000,” Hawley said.

“That’s a lie,” Ellison responded.

As the exchange intensified, Hawley added, “Well, I should call you a prisoner because you ought to be in jail.”

Ellison replied that the senator’s claims were false and disputed allegations that his office ignored whistleblower warnings. “For the record, he’s lying, and that’s the truth,” Ellison said.