WATCH: Noem avoids apology for her ‘domestic terrorism’ characterization of DHS shooting victims

Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday if she wanted to apologize for the way she characterized the victims in two separate fatal shootings in Minneapolis by federal agents.

Noem, as she had done throughout the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday hearing, offered her condolences and didn’t apologize for saying the two U.S. citizens had engaged in “domestic terrorism.” the secretary did promise to “work hard to give everybody factual information.”

Noem’s agency has been roiled by turmoil and public outcry in recent days. The shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal officers in Minneapolis prompted weeks of protests in the Twin Cities area. Trump officials, including Noem, accused the victims – Renee Good and Alex Pretti – of committing acts of “domestic terrorism.”

But bystander videos challenged the administration’s narrative of the high-profile shooting deaths, and documented DHS deploying other aggressive tactics. Greater scrutiny by Democrats into the ways the Trump administration has been carrying out his mass deportation agenda led to a lapse in the agency’s funding and partial government shutdown.

Congressional lawmakers have yet to reach a deal to fund the department, though there are areas of bipartisan agreement, such as a body camera requirement for immigration enforcement agents.

Noem will also field questions Wednesday from the House Judiciary Committee.

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