Statement from the family of Alex Pretti, Michael and Susan Pretti:
“We are heartbroken but also very angry.
Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.
The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.
Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you”
I'm a former defense attorney and currently a civil liberties attorney with no political dog in this fight. I watched the video at least 10 times from different angles and at different speeds and waited to offer an opinion, which I still reserve the right to change if additional information changes the calculus.
It is very clear that the officers instigated the confrontation. The woman initially tried to wave them past her.
ICE officers have no authority to search a US citizen or arrest her (unless there's probable cause to believe she's harboring undocumented individuals, not a contention here). A woman surrounded by masked, armed men who have no law enforcement authority over her has every right to try to escape. Video shows her steering wheel is turned to the right, clearly an attempt to leave WITHOUT hitting anyone and steer clear of the officer standing towards the front of her car. That officer had time to step to the side, which is where he was when he shot her.
Even a real police officer would not have the right to shoot at her for trying to flee. This is well-established in the case law; deadly force may not be used simply to prevent someone from getting away. Given that the ICE officers had no law enforcement authority to begin with, AND the video footage shows she was trying to escape a perceived threat, not to kill anyone, the crime is all the more inexcusable.
I'm praying for the victim's family, especially her children. I'm also praying for all the conservatives who are so unprincipled and lost they're excusing this terrible crime, and gloating over a death that will leave three young children motherless, because of the victim's politics.
The "big, ugly bill" will add trillions of dollars to our national debt, fire health-care workers, throw people off their health insurance, close rural hospitals and cause more people to go hungry.
There's nothing beautiful about a bill that will cost jobs, savings and health.
The "big, ugly bill" is going to fire 20,000 health care workers in Kentucky. That's 20,000 people who won't be able to pay rent, afford groceries or care for their families.
This isn't something folks can "get over." Raise your voice and demand to stop this harmful bill.
I was just informed Trump is deploying another 2,000 Guard troops to L.A.
The first 2,000? Given no food or water. Only approx. 300 are deployed — the rest are sitting, unused, in federal buildings without orders.
This isn’t about public safety. It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego.
This is Reckless. Pointless. And Disrespectful to our troops.
TOMORROW (Wednesday) IS “FJ’s 24 hr GIFT CARD GIVING” for the peeps of SOMERSET/LONDON,KY! INFO WILL BE ON ALL MY SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES TOMORROW! #missionaryofmercy#KentuckyStrong THIS CAN ONLY BE A SUCCESS IF EVERYONE PARTICIPATES AND MAKES IT GO VIRAL!!!! @Pontifex
The Marine Band invited young musicians of color to perform—until Trump’s executive order shut it down. But they refused to be silenced. With military band veterans stepping in, they played for a nation that needed to hear them.
🎥: @60Minutes
Europe,
The world will forever be grateful if you stepped up to support Ukraine right now. The US is not a leader anymore. Go around us and defend democracy.
Sincerely,
All patriotic Americans
New @AP statement responding to Trump's comments saying "we are going to keep them out:"
"This is about the government telling the public and press what words to use and retaliating if they do not follow government orders." (1/2)
Gather round MAGA. It's time
to explain this one more time.
83% of the federal workforce works outside of DC in states all across the country.
In some states, like Alabama and New Mexico, the federal government is the largest employer.
While you are rooting for hardworking Americans to lose their jobs because of "government bloat," remember these Americans are your neighbors, your friends, and maybe even family members.
When people lose their jobs, it creates financial hardship. It increases unemployment payouts. It reduces consumer demand and decreases spend, which hurts local businesses.
That happening on a national scale all across the country impacts the economy.
While saving "billions" in government spend which you'll never see a dime, you will feel the pain of the strain unemployment takes on the economy, coupled with tariffs, and increased cost of goods due to rising inflation.
Congratulations on saving the government money while hurting the lives of average Americans.
Winning. 🇺🇸
The University of Missouri is part of the Soybean Innovation Lab. Missouri, as a state, is #7 in the nation for soybean production. It is our #1 crop. The annual on farm value of Missouri’s soybean crop is more than $2.5 billion. #moleg@GovMikeKehoe /1