Dhs Kristi Noem Faces Sharp Questioning Over 'Blankies,' Jets and Adviser

In a combative House Oversight Committee hearing, dhs kristi noem defended the agency’s immigration enforcement policies while facing pointed questions about a special adviser, the use of government jets and her comments about two Americans killed in Minneapolis.

Dhs Kristi Noem grilled over Lewandowski and luxury jets

The hearing, the second in back-to-back DHS oversight hearings, grew contentious as Democrats pressed Noem about Corey Lewandowski’s role as a special adviser and about the department’s travel practices. Rep. Sydney Kalmager-Dove questioned whether Lewandowski, whose appointment as a special government employee was highlighted on the floor, had exceeded the allowed 130-day period for that status and asked Noem directly whether she had sexual relations with him. Both Noem and Lewandowski denied reports of an affair; Noem told the committee she was "shocked that we're going down and peddling tabloid garbage" and said Lewandowski is a special government employee who "works for the White House. There are thousands of them in the federal government. "

Blankies and an 'airborne episode' on government aircraft

Rep. Jamie Raskin pressed Noem after raising questions about the department’s use of so-called "luxury jets, " a topic Noem had defended during Senate testimony one day prior by saying the aircraft were used for both executive travel and mass deportations. Raskin described hearing "an airborne episode of entitlement, arrogance and contempt" tied to an incident in which a "special blanket — your blankie" was left on a government jet and, he said, Corey Lewandowski "stepped forward to fire the pilot. " The committee exchange underscored lawmakers’ focus on travel practices and how advisers are treated aboard government aircraft.

Labeling Minneapolis deaths 'domestic terrorism' drew pushback

Lawmakers also pressed Noem on statements she made about two Americans killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, named in testimony as Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Members asked why Noem had described the deaths in terms tied to domestic terrorism and pressed her to withdraw that characterization. Noem declined to withdraw the wording and at one point said, "I did not call him a domestic terrorist. I said it appeared to be an incident of" domestic terrorism. The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement told senators last month that he saw no evidence to suggest the terrorism claims were true, a point Democrats raised repeatedly during the hearing.

dhs kristi noem repeatedly defended her department’s enforcement actions during the session, arguing publicly for the decisions she has overseen while facing sustained questioning from Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee. The hearing featured sustained exchanges about personnel, how the department uses travel resources and the public language senior officials use after deadly encounters with civilians.

Members of Congress remain deadlocked on how to proceed with fully funding the sprawling federal agency, and the House Oversight Committee hearing was the second in back-to-back DHS oversight hearings. Noem had testified in the Senate one day earlier, and lawmakers signaled continued scrutiny of department operations as budget and oversight discussions proceed.