Democratic Rep. Delia C. Ramirez, of Illinois didn’t hold back Thursday as she confronted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over what she called a pattern of deception and misconduct. The exchange, which took place during a tense Homeland Security Committee hearing, saw Ramirez openly threaten impeachment if Noem was not removed from office.
“I want to be very clear,” Ramirez told Noem. “You have misused resources appropriated by Congress. You’ve engaged in unethical behavior. You have repeatedly made false and misleading statements to Congress and to the press, and you’ve undermined the separation of powers and disregarded the role of Congress on the courts.”
Ramirez did not stop there, laying bare the stark choices she claimed Noem now faces. “Bottom line, you lie with impunity, you reject checks and balances, and you ignore Congress on the courts,” she continued. “Your options are limited. Either you’re going to resign, Trump’s going to fire you, or you will be impeached.”
The Illinois Democrat made it clear that calls for Noem’s resignation were already underway. “I urge you to reconsider resignation because I’ve taken the first step towards your impeachment,” Ramirez warned, “and I’ve called on the Judiciary Committee to open an investigation into your lawlessness.”
The exchange signals Democrats are escalating their fight to hold Noem accountable for what Ramirez described as consistent ethical and legal violations.
Watch the exchange below:
