In the immediate aftermath, high-ranking officials characterized the incident in starkly different terms. DHS statements alleged that Pretti had “approached” officers with a handgun and “violently resisted” efforts to disarm him, with some officials even labeling the ICU nurse a “domestic terrorist” and a “would-be assassin.” These characterizations have drawn fierce backlash from Pretti’s family and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), who condemned the statements as “disgusting lies” and an attempt to slander a man who spent his life saving others. The contrast between these official pronouncements and the bystander video has fueled a crisis of public trust, leading to calls for the resignation of top leadership. Continue reading…
