On Friday, the man who placed his hand on Abraham Lincoln’s Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution was revealed to have directed border officials to follow his rules instead of international and Constitutional law and, should they get into trouble, he’d pardon them.
BREAKING: In Calexico, CA last week, where POTUS told border agents to block asylum-seekers from entering the US contrary to law, Trump told CBP head McAleenan if he were sent to jail as a result, the president would pardon him, 2 Sr admin officials tell me.
More on @CNN…
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) April 12, 2019
Trump reportedly told his appointee to the Department of Homeland Security, Kevin McAleenan, that he could simply refuse to allow migrants to file for asylum, which is against the law, and if he were to be arrested for it, Trump would just pardon him. The White House has dismissed concerns over the story by saying that Trump was “joking,” but the comments align with recent statements from the president that border officials should turn migrants away because our “country is full.”
According to CNN:
‘Two officials briefed on the exchange say the President told McAleenan, since named the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, that he “would pardon him if he ever went to jail for denying US entry to migrants,” as one of the officials paraphrased.’
Trump pardoned Joe Arpaio after he was found in contempt for his violation of immigration laws.
Now Trump reportedly promised a pardon to the Customs and Border Partrol head if he violated the law at Trump’s urging.
The rule of law is withering away, and the GOP says nothing. https://t.co/cOBfNsN9D4
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) April 12, 2019
Those were the same comments Trump made during the visit to Calexico, California, where he reportedly made those statements in front of border officials. They apparently did not see the comments as a joke, as some apparently sought the advice of upper officials to see if it was permissible for them to follow Trump’s orders.
‘During his visit to Calexico last Friday, Trump said on camera: “We’re full, our system’s full, our country’s full — can’t come in! Our country is full, what can you do? We can’t handle any more, our country is full. Can’t come in, I’m sorry. It’s very simple.”
‘Behind the scenes, two sources told CNN, the President told border agents to not let migrants in. Tell them we don’t have the capacity, he said. If judges give you trouble, say, “Sorry, judge, I can’t do it. We don’t have the room.”‘
If true, this is the most obviously impeachable action Trump has taken to date: It would mean this president has seized the power to put not just himself but all who do his bidding beyond the reach of law. Any such president must be removed at once.https://t.co/twhO5yRPLl
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) April 12, 2019
Trump has repeatedly pushed policies on Twitter in recent days that are illegal, such as releasing all detained immigrants into sanctuary cities out of revenge against the Democrats who run those cities. On Friday, he tweeted:
‘”Due to the fact that Democrats are unwilling to change our very dangerous immigration laws, we are indeed, as reported, giving strong considerations to placing Illegal Immigrants in Sanctuary Cities only,” Trump said on Twitter. “The Radical Left always seems to have an Open Borders, Open Arms policy — so this should make them very happy!”‘
"[Trump] was chaffing against Nielsen’s advice that he can’t shut the border because it could be considered illegal, and he turned to her replacement… and said to him ‘Just do it , if there’s a problem with the legality, I’ll pardon you’" – @anniekarni w/ @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/f9yJGFjYmO
— Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) April 12, 2019
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
