Kentucky Senator demands independent investigation into fatal federal shooting in Minneapolis

Sen. Rand Paul said during a Wednesday interview that nobody who has watched the videos believes the protester was assaulting police when the shooting happened.

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Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is calling for an independent investigation after federal agents fatally shot an ICU nurse in Minneapolis over the weekend- the second deadly shooting by federal agents in the city in recent days.

Paul said during a Wednesday interview, "when the government tells them well he was assaulting the police officers, no party with any objectivity believes that is what's happening."

The senator, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, has requested officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to testify before Congress next month about the shooting of Alex Pretti.

What's raising alarm is the stark difference between what officials are saying happened and what videos of the encounter appear to show.

The White House narrative vs. what the video shows

After the shooting, senior officials in President Donald Trump's administration branded Pretti as a domestic terrorist, claiming he assaulted federal officers. But Paul says anyone watching the videos with objectivity can see that's not what happened.

"When people watch that video, and the government tells them, 'Well, he was assaulting the police officers,' no party with objectivity believes that is what is happening," Paul said during a Fox Business interview Wednesday. "The man retreats with each altercation, retreats. The woman thrown violently to ground, he is thrown to the ground. No American believes he was assaulting the officers. In fact, the opposite appears true."

The Department of Homeland Security has described Pretti as an "assassin," a "would-be assassin," and a "domestic terrorist" who assaulted police- characterizations Paul strongly disputes based on available video evidence.

"We have to get the rules straight"

Paul acknowledged that removing violent people from cities is broadly supported across the political spectrum and represents one of Trump's key initiatives. But he emphasized that immigration enforcement "can't be done with no rules."

The senator also pushed back on suggestions that Pretti shouldn't have been armed, calling that notion contrary to Second Amendment rights.

"I have been to dozens, dozens of rallies and/or protests where people are visibly armed or have concealed carry," Paul said. "The people saying this, we need to get this straight so we have awareness. People go to protest, they know what the rules of the game are."

He added: "If videoing somebody is assault- most people don't believe it is, but if that is assault- then people need to know that. That if you video someone, you could be shot. We need clarification on all of this."

Who can conduct an independent investigation?

Paul is withholding judgment on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for now, but says there must be an independent investigation- and crucially, not one conducted by DHS itself.

"If this happened on a police force, officers, whether or not they committed anything wrong, would immediately be put on administrative leave. There would be an investigation," Paul explained. "But I don't know who trusts an investigation done by DHS when they call this person an assassin, a would-be assassin, a domestic terrorist, saying he assaulted police. How can they be in charge of an independent investigation?"

The senator suggested this appears to be a tragedy involving a gun drawn prematurely, possibly after someone shouted "gun, gun, gun," creating confusion about whether the perpetrator or one of their own agents had a weapon.

"If we don't see it as a mistake and say, 'Jolly well and good, he was a terrorist'- people aren't going to accept that," Paul said. "You want Minnesota to calm down? Show a just, independent investigation."

What happens next

Several officials are scheduled to testify before Congress:

• February 10: Rodney Scott (former Border Patrol Chief) and Joseph Edlow (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director) will appear before the House
• March 3: Secretary Kristi Noem is scheduled to testify

Lawmakers from both parties have been calling for accountability, with some demanding Noem's resignation and threatening impeachment if she remains in office. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman called on President Trump to fire Noem, writing she is "trashing your legacy."

President Trump told reporters Tuesday that the Secretary would not be stepping down.

The shooting has also created friction over DHS funding, with Senate Democrats pushing to separate homeland security funding from a larger government spending package. The administration has reportedly told Senate Democrats they will manage changes to enforcement operations and remove certain officials from Minneapolis operations.

But Paul noted that ICE already has substantial funding- approximately $10 billion in annual appropriations, plus an extra $18-19 billion per year from additional funding approved last summer.

"There is so much money running around this place," Paul said, adding he wants to see rules established and an independent investigation before Congress considers providing additional billions to the agency.

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