MaddowBlog-Lawmakers ask why the agent who shot and killed Alex Pretti is still on the job

[LetMyPeopleVote]

“It defies common sense — and is completely inexcusable — that the agent who killed Alex Pretti … is already back in the field,” one key congressman said.

It’s good to see Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) asking the same obvious question:

Why is the man who shot and killed Alex Pretti still on the job? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-27T16:17:16.157Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/lawmakers-ask-why-the-agent-who-shot-and-killed-alex-pretti-is-still-on-the-job

When a reporter asked specifically whether those agents are “working right now,” Bovino replied, “All agents that were involved in that scene are working, not in Minneapolis, but in other locations.”

A day later, Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, expressed incredulity about the decision to leave Pretti’s shooter in the field. The congressman’s written statement read:

It defies common sense — and is completely inexcusable — that the agent who killed Alex Pretti Saturday is already back in the field terrorizing our communities and believing — as Greg Bovino has so wrongly asserted — that he is the victim. Clearly, no investigation took place and longstanding Department policy was completely ignored.

At a minimum, the agent should be on Administrative Leave. It is clear that that this administration does not care about accountability or the safety of U.S. citizens.

On Tuesday morning, Thompson received some backup from Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who chairs the Senate’s Homeland Security Committee. “Local police routinely put officers involved in deadly shootings on administrative leave until an independent investigation is concluded,” the Kentucky senator said in a statement. “That should happen immediately.”

Paul added, “For calm to be restored, an independent investigation is the least that should be done.” The senator also took an unsubtle rhetorical swipe at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, “I can’t recall ever hearing a police chief immediately describing the victim as a ‘domestic terrorist’ or a ‘would-be assassin.’”

There’s nothing to suggest that the Trump administration intends to act on these calls, which suggests the agent who killed Pretti is likely to remain at large for an indefinite period.

[SheltieLover]

1. Why is the murderer not behind bars?????

[malaise]

5. THIS

Rec

[SheltieLover]

6. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

Not directed at you, Malaise.

[MustLoveBeagles]

8. This to infinity

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Cause he scares the public real good

Fear makes a docile populace. That's what they need.

[raccoon]

3. Mississippi, yall should elect Bennie Thompson as Senator.

[sop]

4. Local, state and federal prosecutors routinely charge officers with murder,

particularly the ones who are videotaped from a dozen different angles executing an innocent, unarmed man in the street..

[FakeNoose]

7. Because he has a special card ... they all do