JD Vance Refuses to Apologize After Pushing False “Assassin” Claim About Nurse Killed by Federal Agents
JD Vance is refusing to apologize to the family of Alex Pretti, the nurse shot and killed by federal immigration agents last month in Minneapolis, after previously boosting claims that Pretti was an “assassin” who tried to murder officers.
In a Tuesday interview with The Daily Mail, Vance dismissed the idea of issuing an apology. “For what?” he said when asked whether he would say sorry to Pretti’s family.
The fatal confrontation, captured on video, sparked outrage after details contradicted the initial account promoted by White House officials. Pretti, who had a concealed carry permit and was armed at the time, did not draw his weapon or attempt to attack the agents before being tackled to the ground. Officers disarmed him before firing ten shots in rapid succession.
In the immediate aftermath, Vance amplified social media posts from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller describing Pretti as an “assassin” who had attempted “to murder federal agents.”
However, Donald Trump later said he did not agree with that assessment, and Miller has since clarified that his remarks were made before he knew the full details of what occurred. Video footage of the incident appears to contradict those initial claims.
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed last week.
When pressed on whether he owed the family an apology for spreading an inaccurate narrative, Vance grew defensive, arguing it would be unfair to prejudge the agents involved.
“I’m not going to prejudge these guys. I think that everybody is deserved the presumption of innocence in the American system of justice,” Vance told the Mail. “Let’s do the investigation.”
Asked if he would apologize if the investigation ultimately finds the agents at fault, Vance declined to commit.
“If this hypothetical leads to that hypothetical leads to that hypothetical, will I do a thing?” he said. “We’re going to let the investigation determine.”
Watch The Daily Mail Interview
