'Morning Joe Co-host Criticizes 'Partisan Hacks' for Justifying Shooting with New Pretti Clip'

Morning Joe co-host Willie Geist condemned attempts to justify the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti using newly released footage from an earlier encounter with federal agents, calling such arguments from "partisan hacks" misleading and dangerous.

Willie Geist, co-host of Morning Joe, recently expressed strong disapproval towards individuals he referred to as "partisan hacks" who attempted to use newly surfaced video footage of Minneapolis shooting victim Alex Pretti to justify his fatal shooting by federal agents. The footage, released late Wednesday and reviewed by BBC Verify, shows Pretti involved in a confrontation with federal immigration officers on January 13, two weeks prior to his death.

The New Footage

The controversial video, originally published by The News Movement, depicts an altercation between Pretti and federal immigration agents on January 13. In the footage, Pretti appears to kick an agent's vehicle and spit at an officer before being subdued and thrown to the ground. Fact-checkers at BBC Verify have confirmed the video is highly likely to feature Pretti, with a 97% certainty about the identity of the individual involved.

Context of the Shooting

Just days after this incident, on January 24, Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents in another encounter. This shooting has sparked discussions about the events surrounding his death, with some trying to connect the January 13 confrontation to the subsequent fatal shooting. However, critics argue that attempting to justify the shooting using the earlier altercation is a deeply flawed approach.

Geist's Response

During a segment on Morning Joe, Geist expressed outrage at those trying to link the two incidents. He stressed that Pretti's behavior in the January 13 video should not be used as a justification for his death just days later. "In the desperate search by some partisan hacks to find a justification for the shooting death of Alex Pretti in the streets, some of them think they’ve found something in the video that you just played and described," Geist commented. "That was 11 days before Alex was shot. It was also in Minneapolis. It does look like him, based on his clothes and his appearance, the BBC says they’ve all but verified 97% that it’s him. All those things are true, and maybe not the way you or I would have behaved at a rally or a protest or whatever it is."

Geist quickly pointed out that while the video shows Pretti in a tense situation with officers, it did not justify his later death. "My God, are you suggesting because he heckled officers and then kicked in their taillights that 11 days later he deserved to be effectively executed in the streets of the city? Is that the case you’re making? That’s insane. Right?" he added.

Critical Examination of the Agents' Actions

Geist also highlighted the actions of the federal agents during the January 13 encounter, noting that after subduing Pretti and placing him on the ground, the officers eventually let him go without escalating the situation. He contrasted this with the later fatal shooting, where agents fired multiple shots into Pretti's body. "And it also shows 11 days earlier those agents, when confronted by Alex Pretti, they subdued him, they got him on the ground and then they released him. They did not fire 8 to 9 shots into his body," Geist pointed out, emphasizing the stark difference between the two situations.

Public Reactions and Ongoing Debate

The release of the footage and the subsequent reactions have ignited a significant debate over the circumstances of Pretti's death and the broader issues surrounding law enforcement conduct and accountability. While some defend the use of the video as part of a broader examination of Pretti’s actions, others argue that using it to justify his killing is irresponsible and disregards the full context. The debate continues over whether Pretti's behavior in the January 13 incident should have any bearing on his subsequent death. Critics of those attempting to justify the shooting argue that it is essential to focus on the fact that Pretti was not a threat when he was fatally shot, and that the use of lethal force was excessive. This case has also drawn attention to the wider issue of federal agents' use of force in situations that do not appear to warrant such a response.

Conclusion

As the situation continues to unfold, many are questioning the actions of both the federal agents involved and those who seek to rationalize the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti. Geist’s impassioned response highlights the importance of ensuring that justice is pursued based on facts, not partisan motivations or selective interpretations of video evidence.

Sources:

• ‘Insane!’ Morning Joe Co‑host Trashes ‘Partisan Hacks’ Pushing New Pretti Clip to ‘Find a Justification’ for Shooting
• Video shows Alex Pretti in scuffle with federal agents 11 days before his death
• New videos show Alex Pretti scuffle with federal officers in Minneapolis 11 days before his death
• ‘Insane!’ Morning Joe Co-host Trashes ‘Partisan Hacks’ Pushing New Pretti Clip to ‘Find a Justification’ for Shooting