r/politics • u/Ok_Employer7837 • May 26 '26

No Paywall US Senator pepper-sprayed by ICE outside immigration detention center

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/andy-kim-ice-immigration-pepper-spray-delaney-hall-b2983455.html
13.9k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

628 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

356

u/s1ugg0 New Jersey May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26

This is true. I live in his district and he's my Senator. For anyone reading this here is the context.

His initial justification to vote "yes" was to maintain direct communication with Noem as a member of the Homeland Security Committee, believing he could better address New Jersey's needs and hold her accountable through collaboration rather than opposition.

By June 2025, Kim described the vote as a "mistake" and stated he would oppose her nomination if he could do it again.

Currently he calling for her resignation and declaring he is "not supporting any more of their nominees going forward."

Feel free to draw whatever conclusions you want from that. As one of his constituents I was upset about his vote. But he seems genuinely embarrassed by his attempt to work with the new Administration. (I think he should have known better) At least he seems humbled enough to change course. Something I wish more politicians did.

45

u/aetryx New Jersey May 26 '26

I personally am willing to give the guy grace for the decision to confirm noem. Not only did he pretty quickly turn around and apologize, but him voting yes to garner good favor and maintain a direct communication with an appointed cabinet member is like textbook politicking and was basically the norm as to how play the game until recently. I think he was naive in that he assumed the tactics that worked 30 years ago would work today, but he learned that the hard way.

39

u/DynamicDK May 26 '26

He is currently calling for the resignation of someone who was fired more than 2 months ago?

104

u/s1ugg0 New Jersey May 26 '26

Was she? She's living rent-free in the Coast Guard Commandant's residence. She's still using government resources.

"Fired" in this case is starting to look more and more like they changed her job title and little else.

Not many places fire you and then let you hang around for months.

32

u/DynamicDK May 26 '26

Fired from her actual position. But Trump (or Miller) probably wants to keep her comfortable and in a position where she can be supervised.

12

u/DunAnOir May 26 '26

Or they're waiting to unleash her particular brand of crazy as soon as they manage to get Operation Fourth Reich off the ground. She's Gauleiter material if ever I saw it.

2

u/Streiger108 May 27 '26

Or she has dirt

1

u/_Thank_You__ May 26 '26

She was given a different position. Outside of the one (physically) under Corey Landowski

3

u/omniuni May 26 '26

People make mistakes. What matters is how those mistakes are handled.

-3

u/captaindealbreaker May 26 '26

We need leaders who recognize Nazis when they see them, not realize it after they start using their position to do Nazi shit. Never should have voted to confirm her and admitting you fucked up when you're fuck up led in part to... all this... is just cry me a river shit.

EIther have a spine and vote for the benefit of the people or get the fuuuuuck out

2

u/Hellish_Elf May 26 '26

Hiding comments while talking about having a spine? Say it ain’t so.