Sen. Ron Johnson Accuses Minnesota AG Keith Ellison Over Protest Deaths
Senator Ron Johnson accused Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison of encouraging anti-ICE protesters into harm's way during a Senate oversight hearing.
Overview
Senator Ron Johnson, R-Wis., accused Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison of encouraging anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters into harm's way and shouted "you ought to feel damn guilty about it" during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing.
The exchange unfolded amid protests over ICE operations and the January shootings that killed Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, incidents that have intensified scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison denied Johnson's allegations, telling the committee "everything you said was untrue. It was a nice theatrical performance, but it was all lies," and officials confirmed he has been subpoenaed by the Justice Department in an investigation into alleged obstruction.
The confrontation drew Capitol Hill attention and highlighted a Justice Department probe that has issued subpoenas to state officials and prompted public criticism from both Republican and Democratic leaders.
The Senate committee may seek additional testimony and documents as the Justice Department's investigation continues, and the hearing was marked by sharply conflicting accounts between Johnson and Ellison.
Analysis
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FAQ
Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent on January 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old VA nurse protesting her death, was shot multiple times by Border Patrol agents on January 24, 2026, while directing traffic near a confrontation involving ICE agents attempting to enter a doughnut shop.
During a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, Sen. Ron Johnson accused AG Keith Ellison of encouraging anti-ICE protesters into harm's way, shouting that Ellison 'ought to feel damn guilty about it.'
Keith Ellison denied the allegations, stating to the committee 'everything you said was untrue. It was a nice theatrical performance, but it was all lies.'
Keith Ellison has been subpoenaed by the Justice Department in an investigation into alleged obstruction related to the ICE protest incidents and shootings.
Operation Metro Surge is a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis that sparked widespread protests, leading to the shootings of Renee Good, a Venezuelan man, and Alex Pretti.
History
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