Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Rep. Jerry Nadler on Tuesday after the New York Democrat suggested that people might be justified in using deadly force against a federal agent if they believed they were being abducted by “masked hoodlums.”
Vance condemned Nadler’s comments in blunt terms, labeling them “despicable.”
Nadler made the remarks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, where he argued that what he described as attacks on Americans posed the most serious threat facing the country.
“What is the major problem in our country today is the fascism in our streets; the attacks on American citizens by masked hoodlums. If you were attacked by a masked person, you might think you were being kidnapped; you’d be justified in shooting the person to protect yourself,” Nadler said.
Vance responded to the comments on X, directing his criticism at the veteran lawmaker, who is retiring from Congress.
“Jerry Nadler is one of the highest ranking Democrats in the House of Representatives and he is openly calling for people to shoot federal law enforcement.
“This is despicable behavior from an elected official and I’m sure the leftwing media will cover it extensively,” Vance wrote.
Nadler went on to expand on his concerns during the hearing.
“We see people being shot, for what? For driving a car?” he said.
The exchange followed a series of deadly incidents involving federal agents that have drawn scrutiny and political backlash.
Federal officials say Renee Good was shot and killed last month by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent after she attempted to flee in her vehicle to avoid arrest on suspicion of obstructing an immigration enforcement operation.
Authorities said Good used her car to block agents on a residential street and struck an officer, prompting the agent to fire in self-defense.
Others have challenged the government’s version of events leading up to Good’s death.
Several weeks later, Alex Pretti was fatally shot while interfering with an ICE operation in Minneapolis, an incident that prompted some Democrats to renew calls for dismantling the agency altogether.
{Matzav.com}