Over 50 House Democrats have signed on to co-sponsor articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: That is roughly a quarter of the House Democratic caucus — a far cry from the party's out-of-hand dismissal of every other impeachment effort that has cropped up thus far during Trump's second term.
- Reps. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Al Green (D-Texas) and Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) were all derided by colleagues for their efforts to impeach Trump or his Cabinet officials and garnered little support.
- But this push by Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), a member of Democratic leadership, is riding a tsunami of anti-Noem sentiment within the caucus sparked by the shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis last week.
By the numbers: A total of 53 House Democrats signed on to the bill by the Tuesday afternoon co-sponsorship deadline, according from a list obtained by Axios.
- Several of the co-sponsors represent battleground districts, including Reps. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.) and Dave Min (D-Calif.).
- Others, such as Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), are well-known centrists who are now in competitive Democratic primaries for U.S. Senate seats.
- Kelly's office told Axios that several more lawmakers may still sign on as co-sponsors later on.
The details: The articles, set to be formally unveiled Wednesday, will accuse Noem of three counts.
- Obstruction of Congress: For instances in which members of Congress were denied entry to DHS facilities and for withholding congressionally appropriated disaster relief funding.
- Violation of public trust: For allegedly denying ICE detainees due process and violating the First and Fourth amendments.
- Self-dealing: Over reports that Noem awarded $220 million in contracts to a firm run by her top spokesperson's husband.
What they're saying: "Under Secretary Noem, DHS and ICE have systemically violated the rights and privacy of Americans, terrorized our cities, and obstructed congress," Kelly wrote in a letter urging her colleagues to sign on to the articles of impeachment.
- Vasquez said in a statement to Axios: "Sec. Noem has systematically violated Americans' rights, directed masked agents to terrorize our communities, and obstructed Congress. She's got to go."
- Said Sorensen: "As a Member of Congress, I take seriously my job to hold presidential administrations accountable ... Secretary Noem is failing the American people by threatening, intimidating, and harassing my neighbors and I believe she must be removed from office."
- Both lawmakers signed on despite Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.) arguing in a closed-door Democratic leadership meeting on Monday that a forced Noem impeachment vote would be bad for members in swing seats.
The other side: A DHS spokesperson, in a statement, dismissed Kelly's impeachment efforts as a "silly" initiative during a "serious time."
- "As ICE officers are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them, Rep. Kelly is more focused on showmanship and fundraising clicks than actually cleaning up her crime-ridden Chicago district," the spokesperson said.
- "We hope she would get serious about doing her job to protect American people, which is what this Department is doing under Secretary Noem."
