On Tuesday’s Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough moved well beyond analyzing the Minneapolis ICE-related shootings. He openly urged Minnesota authorities to file criminal charges against federal agents — and then turned to address ICE officers directly, warning them that “no one can pardon you.”
Scarborough began by accusing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem of “lying from the very beginning,” and described the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in graphic terms. But it was what followed that marked a striking shift from commentary to advocacy.
“I think it’s incumbent on the state of Minnesota… bring these charges,” Scarborough declared, arguing that state prosecutors should file cases and use the discovery process to force federal authorities to turn over evidence.
That wasn’t speculation about what might happen. It was a call for prosecution.
After Scarborough laid out his case, co-host Mika Brzezinski punctuated the moment with a blunt reminder: “No statute of limitations on murder.”
Scarborough seized on the theme: “I do say this to ICE agents who are out there… it’s important for them to understand,” he said, pivoting from discussing the agents to speaking directly to them. “There is a statute of limitations that lasts forever on some crimes. And the President of the United States cannot pardon you for crimes that are brought against you by the state of Minnesota or any other state.”
Scarborough Urges MN Prosecutors to Charge ICE Agents, Warns Them They Can’t Be Pardoned pic.twitter.com/JWhV0zHqML
— Mark Finkelstein (@markfinkelstein) February 17, 2026
He later reinforced the warning:
“If you do something that leads to serious injury or the death of somebody, justice will be served, and there is no one who can pardon you for crimes committed in the state of Minnesota or California or Georgia or South Carolina or any other state.”
In effect, Scarborough broke the fourth wall — stepping out of studio analysis and addressing federal law enforcement officers as if they were participants in the show’s audience. It was less detached commentary than live admonition.
Morning news programs routinely feature heated rhetoric. But urging state prosecutors to file charges against federal agents — while warning those agents that presidential pardons won’t save them — crosses into explicit advocacy.
Scarborough framed his remarks as a reminder that administrations come and go, cautioning ICE agents not to assume today’s political environment will protect them tomorrow.
When a cable host moves from commentary to urging indictments — and addresses law enforcement officers as if issuing a legal ultimatum — that’s no longer analysis. That’s activism with a studio audience.
