Axios
Scoop: House Democrat seeks impeachment hearings into DHS Secretary Kristi Noem
<p>Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) is pressing the House Judiciary Committee to begin impeachment hearings into Homeland Security Secretary <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/11/trump-kristi-noem-tom-homan-feud-immigration" target="_blank">Kristi Noem</a>, Axios has learned.</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>House Democrats are increasingly <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/11/impeachment-haley-stevens-rfk-democrats-trump" target="_blank">turning to impeachment as their go-to cudgel</a> against not only President Trump himself, but many of his Cabinet officials.</p><hr /><ul><li>Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) filed articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Secretary <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/10/rfk-jr-haley-stevens-impeach-democrat-congress" target="_blank">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a> this week on a litany of charges mostly related to his efforts to roll back public health measures.</li><li>Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) filed articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/03/pete-hegseth-impeachment-democrat-shri-thanedar" target="_blank">Pete Hegseth</a> last week over <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/02/pentagon-signalgate-defense-department-congress-review" target="_blank">Signalgate</a> and a reported <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/04/trump-hegseth-defense-venezuela-drug-boat" target="_blank">double-tap strike </a>on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat in the Caribbean.</li></ul><p><strong>Driving the news: </strong><a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26371287-delia-ramirez-noem-impeachment-letter/" target="_blank">In a letter</a> to Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Ramirez demanded a "complete investigation into Secretary Noem's unlawful and potentially impeachable actions."</p><ul><li>The letter accuses Noem of "unethical behavior," pointing to reports that a <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-dhs-ad-campaign-strategy-group" target="_blank">firm tied to the DHS secretary</a> allegedly received DHS contract money and that the Coast Guard <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/us/politics/kristi-noem-dhs-gulfstream.html" target="_blank">spent $172 million</a> to buy her two private jets.</li><li>It also alleges she made "false and misleading" statements to Congress about <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/immigration-dhs-american-citizens-arrested-detained-against-will" target="_blank">DHS and ICE operations</a> and accuses her of undermining the separation of powers by <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/noem-decision-el-salvador-deportations-trump-judge-order/" target="_blank">ignoring court orders</a>. </li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying: </strong>"Secretary Noem has established a clear pattern of lawless behavior, mirrored in the behavior of rank and file members of her leadership team," Ramirez wrote.</p><ul><li>"When taken together, her actions violate her oath of office."</li></ul><p><strong>Reality check: </strong>Republicans are highly unlikely to accede to her request, with Jordan spokesperson Russell Dye telling Axios: "This might be the most ridiculous and toothless letter ever written." </p><ul><li>A spokesperson for Raskin declined to immediately comment. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</li></ul>
1 month, 3 weeks ago