Noem Denies Use of Chemical Agents in Minnesota Protests, Then Backtracks
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem initially denied her department used pepper spray and similar tactics against protesters, calling a recent judicial order restricting such measures "ridiculous" because they were not being used.
- After being shown video evidence of federal agents deploying chemical agents against crowds in Minnesota, Noem shifted blame to protesters, stating that chemical agents are only used in response to violence.
- A federal judge ruled that chemical irritants were used against protesters on at least four occasions, describing the evidence as "uncontroverted" and stating that agents punished protesters exercising their First Amendment rights.
- Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin did not address Noem's contradictory statements but accused protesters of felony offenses, including assaulting law enforcement and damaging agents' vehicles
