'Shaky legal ground': WaPo editorial sends Trump a warning despite Bezos' refocus
The Washington Post editorial board penned a column criticizing President Donald Trump over his clash with a federal judge.
In a Thursday column, the board lambasted Trump and his administration for "stonewalling Judge [James] Boasberg."
Boasberg presided over a recent case in which he ruled that the government must return a flight of individuals being deported to El Salvador to be jailed. The administration did not turn the flight around, and the judge is now examining whether his order was intentionally ignored.
The editorial board accused the Justice Department of "refusing to answer basic questions from a federal judge, apparently because it would risk providing evidence that the Trump administration defied the judge’s emergency order last weekend to turn around planes carrying alleged gang members to El Salvador."
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The column alleged that the situation "pushes the republic closer to a constitutional crisis."
The administration is using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has only previously been used during times of war, such as the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II, reported The Associated Press.
The Post argued the law is only meant to be used during times of war "and the United States has not declared war on Venezuela."
"Trump is on shaky legal ground," the board said, noting that the Act doesn't use constitutional due process because, again, it's for use during times of war.
"Trump may relish this fight as good politics, but his public call for impeaching Boasberg has escalated his recent efforts to undermine the rule of law," the editors argued.
The board also noted that the language coming out of the administration is concerning.
"I don’t care what the judges think,” said border czar Tom Homan on Fox News.
The White House has claimed that those deported are international gang members. However, "reliable reporting suggests that some are not gang members, as Trump claims. They have not been allowed to contact their families or meet with lawyers," the editorial board noted.
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said that the U.S. is suffering from a "judicial coup." A former GOP candidate seemed to agree, replying the U.S. should "follow what you did in El Salvador."
"It is the only way,” Musk said on X, reposting the discussion.
"It is not the only way, and it is not the American way. El Salvador demonstrates the danger of relying on strongmen and allowing unchecked officials to act however they like under the auspices of 'national security.' The United States must continue to aspire to its own higher ideals," the board closed.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos informed the company that the opinion page would focus on two specific themes.
“I’m confident that free markets and personal liberties are right for America,” Bezos wrote. “I also believe these viewpoints are underserved in the current market of ideas and news opinion. I’m excited for us together to fill that void.”