Rep Raskin Says Noem 'Barred' Investigators From Probe Into Fatal Minneapolis Shootings, Calls It a 'Cover-Up'

Rep. Jamie Raskin accused Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of engaging in a "cover-up" related to two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this year during a contentious House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday.

Raskin, the top Democrat on the panel, said federal authorities blocked Minnesota investigators from examining the incidents in which Renée Good and Alex Pretti were killed.

"There have been three homicides in Minneapolis in 2026," Raskin told Noem during his opening remarks. "Your agents committed two of them. Rather than work with state and local authorities to solve these homicides, you barred Minnesota's investigators from the crime scenes. You're denying them access to all the evidence that you have about the deaths of their citizens. It smells like a cover-up."

The hearing comes as Noem faces questions from lawmakers about the administration's immigration enforcement policies and her leadership of the Department of Homeland Security.

During his remarks, Raskin described Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, and Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, as Americans who were killed during federal operations connected to immigration enforcement activity and subsequent protests.

He also criticized Noem for publicly describing the two as "domestic terrorists" shortly after the incidents occurred during a contentious exchange. "You proclaimed that they were domestic terrorists at the time," Raskin said, asking Noe directly: "Why did you do that?"

Noem declined to directly answer whether the two victims were domestic terrorists, saying repeatedly that investigations remain ongoing. "As you know, there's ongoing investigations that are being led by the FBI," she said.

Raskin pressed the issue, noting that federal officials had already acknowledged uncertainty about the claims. "You didn't wait for the investigation," he said. "You proclaimed that they were domestic terrorists."

The exchange grew tense as Raskin asked Noem whether federal agents can legally shoot individuals for filming law enforcement or participating in peaceful protest. Noem replied that such actions would not be lawful.

Noem also pushed back on Raskin's broader criticism, accusing him of spreading "falsehoods and lies" about the department's actions. She said DHS officials were working to provide information while supporting the families involved.