CNN’s Jake Tapper is reporting tonight that during a trip to the border last week, President Trump told then CBP head Kevin McAleenan (now acting DHS secretary) that he should close the border to asylum seekers and if he got in legal trouble over it, the president would pardon him:
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
Nobody who heard the conversation seems to know if the president was serious or not:
2/ Officials briefed on the convo say they don’t know if POTUS was joking or serious. WH referred me to DHS, DHS spox says: “At no time has the President indicated, asked, directed or pressured the Acting Secretary to do anything illegal…
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) April 12, 2019
3/ ”…Nor would the Acting Secretary take actions that are not in accordance with our responsibility to enforce the law.”
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) April 12, 2019
The New York Times also reported the news, again stressing that the remarks were “possibly a joke”:
As @jaketapper reported earlier, Trump told McAleenan to ignore Nielsen and said he'd pardon him if anything happened. The remarks, possibly a joke, still alarmed DHS officials @anniekarni @EricSchmittNYT @KannoYoungs me https://t.co/rcxD27XI5a
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 12, 2019
This possible “joke” is now the story of the night:
"[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
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) even threatened impeachment over it:
Dear @realDonaldTrump: Dude, you can't tell a federal employees to violate the law and then say you will issue a pardon. That's the kind of stuff that can get you impeached.
Also, why are you trying to eliminate pre-existing conditions health care coverage? https://t.co/DXbesW0xUm
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) April 12, 2019
Former Obama staffer Dan Pfeifer concurs:
A President instructing a subordinate to break the law with the promise of a pardon is a textbook example of an impeachable offense and should be the biggest story in the country for months. https://t.co/1JXU9t9Nd2
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) April 12, 2019
Rep. Adam Schiff called on Republicans to say something about the possible joke:
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
And it looks like Acting DHS Sec. McAleenan will eventually have to answer questions about it:
As Acting DHS Secretary, Kevin McAleenan will eventually have to come testify before @HomelandDems.
And you can bet I will ask him about this incident. https://t.co/byixW7hzcL
— Kathleen Rice (@RepKathleenRice) April 12, 2019
Welcome to the job, Sec. McAleenan.
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