A growing number of Republicans are calling for an investigation into the shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Andrew Garbarino, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, is demanding testimony from leaders of ICE and Border Patrol, among others. The Republican says that "My top priority remains protecting the safety of Americans."
More information is also being requested by other Republican members of Congress, including Texas Representative Michael McCaul and senators from North Carolina, Louisiana, Maine and Alaska, among others.
"Credibility is at stake"
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who is running for re-election and is being challenged by a Trump-backed candidate, called the shooting “incredibly disturbing.” He believes the credibility of the Department of Homeland Security and immigration enforcement is at stake.
Trump and his administration said immediately after the shooting that the police officer who fired acted in self-defense. Among other things, Pretti was carrying a “very dangerous weapon,” according to Trump, while a New York Times review shows that the man, who had a permit to carry a gun, was holding a cellphone.
Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, who has been critical of Trump for some time, said, "Carrying a firearm is not a death sentence."
"It is a constitutionally protected, God-given right."
High loyalty
Since Trump took office a year ago, Republican loyalty has been strong. The shooting raises uncomfortable questions for a party that, among other things, is passionate about the right to bear arms and trust in federal agencies.
Trump's staunch ally Senator Pete Ricketts is calling for "a prioritized and transparent investigation" into the shooting.
“My support for funding ICE is unchanged,” the Nebraska senator writes.
Out in the states, Republican governors are also calling for de-escalation in Minneapolis, where widespread protests against ICE have erupted. The shooting is a “real tragedy,” according to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, and “not acceptable,” according to Vermont Governor Phil Scott.
Facts: Two fatal shootings in Minneapolis
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Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was shot and killed on January 24. Authorities say he was shot in self-defense by a Border Patrol agent. However, according to US media analysis of video footage of the incident, he was shot multiple times after being subdued and disarmed by several agents.
Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three and poet, was shot dead by an ICE agent on January 7 in her car. Authorities claim she tried to run over immigration officers, while critics say analysis of video footage suggests she tried to swerve to leave the scene.
