By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - US House Democratic leaders on Tuesday demanded that President Donald Trump fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, warning that if not, they would move to impeach her.
"Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives," Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Chair Pete Aguilar said in a statement. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."
Noem is confronting internal scrutiny following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on Saturday in the state of Minnesota. Several Democrats also signed on to an impeachment resolution against Noem.
Democratic leaders said taxpayer dollars "are being weaponized" by the Trump administration to kill Americans.
"The violence unleashed on the American people by the Department of Homeland Security must end forthwith," they said.
Earlier Tuesday, Trump dismissed notions that Noem might step down amid backlash for two killings in Minneapolis.
"No," Trump told reporters before leaving for the state of Iowa, when asked if Noem is going to step down.
Trump said he thinks Noem is doing "a very good job."
"The border is totally secure. You forget, we had a border that I inherited where millions of people were coming through. Now, we have a border where no one is coming through," he said.
Noem is scheduled to testify March 3 before the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to media reports.