‘Enough is Enough’: Republican Lawmakers Rip Trump Over ‘Murder of Americans’ By Federal Officers

(AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Some Republican lawmakers are beginning to turn on President Donald Trump over what one GOP senator called the “murder of Americans” by federal agents.

The revolt comes in the wake of the border patrol shooting death of Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse who has been vilified by the Trump administration as a “domestic terrorist” who meant to “massacre” federal agents. In fact, Pretti possessed a lawful permit to carry a concealed weapon, and widely-scrutinized video has shown that he was disarmed before federal agents fired 10 shots at him as he was restrained.

Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) posted a rant against the administration in all caps on X, writing, “Enough…It’s not acceptable for American citizens to be killed by federal agents for exercising their God-given and constitutional rights to protest their government.”

The post continued:

At best, these federal immigration operations are a complete failure of coordination of acceptable public safety and law enforcement practices, training, and leadership.

At worst, it’s a deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens that’s resulting in the murder of Americans. Again, enough is enough.

The president should pause these operations, de-escalate the situation, and reset the federal government’s focus on truly criminal illegal immigrants. In the absence of presidential action, Congress and the courts must step up to restore constitutionality.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) wrote on social media Sunday, “The tragedy and chaos the country is witnessing in Minneapolis is shocking. The killing yesterday of Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, by ICE agents should raise serious questions within the administration about the adequacy of immigration-enforcement training and the instructions officers are given on carrying out their mission.”

Murkowski continued, “Lawfully carrying a firearm does not justify federal agents killing an American—especially, as video footage appears to show, after the victim had been disarmed. A comprehensive, independent investigation of the shooting must be conducted in order to rebuild trust and Congressional committees need to hold hearings and do their oversight work. ICE agents do not have carte blanche in carrying out their duties.”

Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) said he still supported funding ICE in an X post on Sunday, but that he expected a “transparent investigation” into the shooting of Pretti. Similarly, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said a joint federal and state investigation was necessary and that the “credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake.”

On Fox News Sunday morning, Rep. James Comer (R-KY) suggested that Trump should consider removing ICE officials from Minneapolis if there’s a “chance of losing more…innocent lives.”

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