Hearing Between Senators Turns Tense Over Attorney General
During a Senate hearing on Thursday, Republican senators took aim at Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, accusing him of having a “sneaky” laugh amid rising tensions. Democrats, however, remarked on the situation as a “great theatrical performance.”
The exchange heated up as Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) suggested that Ellison was inflaming unrest in Minnesota, which is dealing with protests against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the recent shootings of two individuals, Alex Preti and Renee Nicole Good. Johnson directly asked Ellison, “Did you ever have any concerns about encouraging those who support you to impede legitimate law enforcement operations and put themselves at risk?”
Ellison responded firmly, stating, “Sir, that never happened. We’re always told that if you want to protest, you should do it peacefully and safely. You wouldn’t think I’m against the First Amendment; I’m always advocating for it.”
Johnson maintained his stance, expressing disbelief at encouraging political supporters to engage in potentially dangerous behavior. He recounted instances of ICE officers facing hostility, saying, “Their cars have been rammed by supposed peaceful protesters, and there have even been rocks thrown at them.” He lamented that if he were in Ellison’s position, he would have sought collaboration with ICE to de-escalate the situation, rather than what he claimed was dangerous encouragement from Ellison. “Two people died because you encouraged them to put themselves in harm’s way, and now you’re exploiting those events for your political gain. That should never have happened,” Johnson added.
It got more intense as Johnson stated, “If you’re an ICE officer conducting operations, you have a team protecting you. With activists surrounding you, it’s hardly surprising a tragedy could occur, and you added to that risk.” He concluded his criticism by pointing out Ellison’s demeanor, saying, “Yeah. Just sit there and grin. It’s disgusting. It’s despicable.”
In response, Ellison challenged Johnson directly, saying, “Are you asking me for a comment, Senator? Because everything you said was a lie. It was a great play, but it was all a lie.” This back-and-forth underscored the deepening discord surrounding issues of immigration and public safety, with both sides firmly entrenched in their positions.
