A Senate Homeland Security hearing took a personal turn on Thursday as Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin directly blamed Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison for the recent deaths of two activists during ICE enforcement actions.
The exchange, marked by high tension and blunt accusations, centered on the fatal January shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.
Senator Johnson argued that Ellison’s public support for “ICE Watch” activists—who track and film immigration officers—directly contributed to a volatile environment. Johnson contended that by encouraging citizens to interfere with law enforcement, Ellison placed both the public and officers in peril.
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“I can’t imagine encouraging people, ‘Put yourselves in harm’s way,’” Johnson said, suggesting that a responsible official would have urged de-escalation and cooperation with federal authorities instead.
The Senator’s remarks highlighted reports of law enforcement vehicles being rammed and the presence of a semi-automatic weapon among activists, arguing that officers are operating on a “hair-trigger” due to the constant pressure from organized protesters. Johnson went as far as to label Good and Pretti “martyrs” being exploited for political gain, telling Ellison he “ought to feel damn guilty” about the lives lost.
As Johnson finished his statement, the room grew quieter when he stopped to address Ellison’s physical reaction. Noticing what he described as a smirk on the Attorney General’s face, Johnson expressed his visible frustration.
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Ellison, maintaining a calm but defiant posture, dismissed the Senator’s narrative entirely. “Everything you said was untrue,” Ellison countered, characterizing Johnson’s speech as a “theatrical performance” comprised of lies. The exchange ended abruptly with Johnson stating, “You disgust me.”
The backdrop of this confrontation is the ongoing unrest in Minneapolis following the deaths of Good and Pretti. Good was a known volunteer for the Minnesota branch of “ICE Watch,” a group dedicated to alerting communities of immigration raids.
Pretti was confirmed to be filming Border Patrol agents with his phone moments before he was killed, according to verified video footage. While activists view these actions as necessary oversight, critics like Johnson argue they are dangerous provocations that lead to inevitable tragedy.
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