Rep Jeffries threatens impeachment, says Noem should be ‘put on ice permanently’

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Thursday that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem should be “put on permanent ice” as he threatened to launch impeachment proceedings against the Cabinet official during a news conference.

Jeffries made the remarks while responding to questions about whether Democrats would pursue impeachment if Noem was not removed, and whether he had spoken with Republicans to support such an effort.

A Trump administration source strongly condemned Jeffries’ comments, warning that they would have sparked outrage if they had come from a Republican leader.

“Imagine if the Republican majority leader had made similar comments about Joe Biden while he was president?” the source told Fox News Digital. “The liberal media would be angry if they accused him of inciting the assassination.

“Now we are hearing crickets from the same people who are eagerly gleaning every word from conservative officials.”

GOP LEGISLATOR RENEWS REQUEST FOR DHS AGENCIES OVERSIGHT HEARING AFTER FATAL SHOOTING IN MINNEAPOLIS

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., stepped up his remarks against Kristi Noem during a news conference Thursday, arguing that the DHS secretary should be “put on permanent ice.” (Getty Images)

The source added that Jeffries’ comments were particularly dangerous given the current political climate.

“What Jeffries said is dangerous and unfathomably stupid given the culture of political violence that the left has endorsed and perpetrated against conservative leaders. He should know better, he knows better,” they said.

During the news conference, Jeffries said he reiterated his threat of impeachment during a recent conversation with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

KRISTI NOEM FACES IMPEACHMENT EFFORTS AT HOME AS 70 DEMS PUSH OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESS CHARGE

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a press conference at the Capitol in Washington, DC (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)

“I reiterated in my conversation with President Johnson that we intend to move forward with impeachment proceedings if Kristi Noem is not fired,” Jeffries said. “Kristi Noem is completely embarrassing. She’s a disgrace.”

Jeffries then accused Noem of “presiding over” deaths he linked to immigration enforcement.

“And on top of all that, she presided over the cold-blooded murders of American citizens like Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti,” Jeffries said. “Unacceptable.”

WHITE HOUSE CLAIMS UPPER HOUSE DEMOCRATIC A ‘BUFFON’ AFTER JEFFRIES MEANS STEPHEN MILLER A ‘Hateful Bigot’

Democrats have threatened to initiate impeachment proceedings if DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is not fired by the Trump administration, despite the president’s continued support. (Luke Johnson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Jeffries also criticized Senate Republicans who voted to confirm Noem, calling her “totally unqualified” for the role.

“She should never have been confirmed,” he said. “Shame on every Senate Republican who put this totally unqualified person in an important position – the Department of Homeland Security – so he could unleash brutality on ordinary Americans, American citizens and law-abiding immigrant families. Simply shameful.”

Jeffries concluded his remarks by reiterating his call for Noem’s impeachment, using language that immediately caught attention.

“She has to go. We’re very serious,” Jeffries said. “She needs to be put on ice permanently. She needs to go.”

In a statement shared by Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie on Friday night, Jeffries appeared to walk back his rhetoric, saying, “She needs to be put on ice. That’s clear, right? That means gone. PART. Of her position. Make no mistake about what I said.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

When asked when he last spoke with Johnson, Jeffries replied, “Yesterday.”

Fox News Digital has contacted Jeffries’ office for comment.