Noem backtracks on ICE pepper spray denial amid tension in Minneapolis

"Kristi Noem first denied that federal agents were using chemical agents against protesters, then after being shown video footage turned to blaming the protesters themselves, as tensions continued to run high amid the Trump administration's surge of federal officers into Minneapolis. The head of homeland security, who has acted as spearhead for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in the city known as Operation Metro Surge told the CBS show Face the Nation on Sunday that her department had not used pepper spray against crowds."

"Kate Menendez found federal agents had used chemical irritants to punish protesters for exercising protected first amendment rights to assemble and to observe and protest ICE operations. Noem first denied the judge's finding, but after being shown a video of chemical agents being used on four occasions, she backtracked and said her department only use those chemical agents when there's violence happening and perpetuating and you need to be able to establish law in order to keep people safe."

Kristi Noem initially denied that federal agents used chemical agents against Minneapolis protesters, then after video evidence she claimed such agents were used only in response to violence. A federal judge ordered federal law enforcement to stop pepper spraying peaceful protesters. Kate Menendez found federal agents used chemical irritants to punish protesters exercising First Amendment rights to assemble and to observe and protest ICE operations. The Trump administration surged federal officers into Minneapolis under Operation Metro Surge. The Pentagon ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers in Alaska to prepare for possible deployment. The Department of Justice opened an investigation into protesters who disrupted services at a church linked to a local ICE official.

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