Welch Slams Noem Over Minneapolis Shooting After Video Shows Pretti Pinned and Shot

“Ten Bullets in a Subjugated Man”: Senator Peter Welch Blasts Secretary Kristi Noem Over Horrific Federal Killings in Minneapolis and the ‘Cruel’ Smear of Victims

In a moment of raw, unfiltered emotion that cut through the typical stoicism of the United States Senate, Senator Peter Welch of Vermont delivered a searing indictment of federal law enforcement and the leadership of the Department of Homeland Security. The floor of the Senate, often a place of measured debate and procedural maneuvering, became the stage for a passionate demand for justice for two innocent Americans whose lives were ended by federal agents in Minneapolis. Senator Welch’s speech was not just a political address; it was a desperate plea for accountability in the face of what he described as “shocking” and “unacceptable” state-sanctioned violence.

At the center of Welch’s explosion were the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti. Welch detailed the circumstances of their killings with a precision that left the room in stunned silence. Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was participating in a protest when she was approached by a federal officer. According to Welch, the officer walked from the back of her vehicle to the front and fired directly through the windshield. He then moved to the side of the car and fired two more rounds through the driver’s side window. Renee was killed instantly, leaving behind three children and a community searching for answers as to why a mother expressing her constitutional rights was met with lethal force.

The details regarding the death of Alex Pretti were even more harrowing. Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a VA hospital, had been observing the federal operations with his cell phone camera. Welch described a scene where Pretti attempted to intervene after witnessing an ICE agent pushing a woman into a snowbank. Following a brief scuffle, Pretti was brought to the ground and placed in “total subjugation” by federal agents. Despite being disarmed and offering no threat, two ICE officers reportedly fired ten bullets into him. Welch’s voice broke with indignation as he emphasized the number: “Ten times. That’s what happened. And why aren’t we all just totally shocked?”

The Senator’s rage was directed not only at the trigger-pullers but at the highest levels of the Department of Homeland Security. Secretary Kristi Noem has come under intense fire for her response to the tragedies, which Welch characterized as an attempt to “blow off” responsibility. Rather than expressing sadness, remorse, or a commitment to a transparent investigation, Noem reportedly branded both Renee Good and Alex Pretti as “domestic terrorists.” Welch called this characterization an act of extreme cruelty and incompetence, labeling it a deliberate smear intended to dehumanize the victims and shield the agency from the consequences of its actions.

“The cruelty of that remark to dismiss two innocent people who died as domestic terrorists tells me there’s not an inkling of acceptance of responsibility,” Welch stated. He argued that the DHS is currently an agency “totally out of control,” operating with a blank check from Congress while refusing to engage in any meaningful discussion about reform. He pointed out the hypocrisy of political leaders who claim that addressing these issues is “too complicated” because of procedural hassles or the inconvenience of calling House members back from recess.

Welch’s speech also paid a moving tribute to the people of Minneapolis, who have continued to protest peacefully in temperatures reaching 20 degrees below zero. He described a community that cares deeply about each other, sharing coffee, cocoa, and soup while standing up for the First Amendment and the right of assembly. For Welch, the resilience of these citizens highlights the failure of the Senate to do its job. He argued that it is the Senate’s responsibility to ensure that every American feels safe and that there is a system of accountability for those who exercise the authority of the state.

The Senator noted that even members of the law enforcement community in his home state of Vermont have contacted him to express their shock. Professional officers understand that while the job is incredibly difficult, they have a responsibility to be “guardians” and “protective.” The actions in Minneapolis, and the subsequent cover-up by the DHS leadership, represent a betrayal of those professional standards and the trust of the American people.

As the debate over federal funding and agency reform continues, Senator Welch has made his position clear: he will not vote to give a blank check to an agency that smears victims to hide its own incompetence. The “Deep Pain and Anguish” felt in Minnesota is now a national crisis that demands a response from the 100 people in the Senate who have the power to provide safety and confidence to the citizens they represent. Welch’s explosive address serves as a stark reminder that behind every policy debate are human lives—mothers like Renee and healers like Alex—who deserve a government that values their existence more than its own political narrative.