(The Center Square) – Three of North Carolina’s four Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives want Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem removed from the president’s Cabinet.
Reps. Alma Adams and Valerie Foushee at midafternoon Thursday were among 80 cosponsors of the Articles of Impeachment resolution filed by Illinois Rep. Robin Kelly. Tuesday, Rep. Deborah Ross released a statement condemning the former Republican governor of South Dakota.
TCS was unsuccessful prior to publication confirming the position of Democratic Rep. Don Davis from North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. According to Congress.gov, he has not signed on as cosponsor. His seat in the upcoming election is among the two most hotly contested for the state tied to Congress; the U.S. Senate race is the other.
“Under Secretary Noem’s tenure, DHS, CBP, and ICE have systemically violated the rights of Americans and the U.S. Constitution,” Adams said, referring to Homeland Security, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agencies. “Border Patrol’s operation in Charlotte saw American citizens assaulted and unlawfully arrested for practicing their constitutional rights, while their refusal to coordinate with local law enforcement threatened the safety of every person in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
“At the same time, Secretary Noem’s willful withholding of congressionally appropriated FEMA funds has impeded North Carolina’s ability to recover from the worst natural disaster in state history. I do not take Articles of Impeachment lightly, but it is clear that Secretary Noem has violated federal law and her oath of office, and, for the safety of our country, she must be removed from office.”
Ross said she’s “been a disaster for North Carolina. She should resign or be removed from office.”
“Noem has one of the most important jobs in America but she’s clearly out of her depth and out of control. We can’t trust her when disaster strikes. We can’t trust her to obey the law. We can’t trust her to protect our rights or our homeland. Enough is enough. Kristi Noem needs to go.”
In a poll conducted Thursday through Monday and released Tuesday by Quinnipiac University, Noem’s approval rating was 36% and disapproval was 52%. In July, her approval rating was 39%.
Second-term Republican President Donald Trump has defended actions by Noem’s federal agents in Minneapolis, including defensive shots fired eight days apart that led to one death. Thursday, he reiterated a Noem point on “professional agitators” being at work in the Twin Cities.
Noem on Thursday said a sixth sanctioned tanker had been seized in the ongoing dispute with Venezuela.
“From warrantless raids to the tragic use of force against U.S. citizens and immigrants,” Foushee said, “Noem’s reckless actions demand accountability. Congress must remove her from office immediately.”
The resolution only has Democrats cosponsoring. This means it is likely parked in the Judiciary Committee to die. Republicans in the chamber led by Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., have a 218-213 majority with four vacancies.
