Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., called for an independent investigation into Pretti’s death, saying the Department of Homeland Security should appoint a commission.
“We can’t just say, ‘Oh, nothing to see here,’ and, ‘He was obviously an assassin and a domestic terrorist.’ When we say things like that, it leads to no confidence,” he said, referring to DHS’ initial statements about Pretti.
“I don’t think it’s honest to say he brandished a weapon. I don’t think it’s honest to say he assaulted officers,” he told reporters. “I’m not saying he might not have been obnoxious. I’m not saying he might have said obnoxious things, but he films; he doesn’t even obstruct the traffic. He waves a car through in the middle of this as they approach him. He retreats as they approach him again, he retreats when a woman is shoved to the ground, he goes to help her up, and that’s when he is grabbed from behind.”
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 8. Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images file
Paul said at no point in the video did he see Pretti assault any agents.
The senator also said Americans need to know “whether or not filming someone, as I see is going on right now, whether that could be considered to be assault.”
“Whether retreating from ICE agents is considered to be assault, and whether or not filming and then retreating is an indication that you’re a potential assassin,” he said.