Donald Trump's administration on Saturday shocked observers with a decision not to arrest two suspected peddlers of fentanyl.
Trump over the weekend took the time to brag about a military strike, saying it was an "honor" while announcing that two were killed in the strike on a submarine. The New York Times also released a report focusing on the two survivors of the strike on the purported drug vessel, who were not arrested and were instead reportedly returned to their home countries.
It's that report that baffled political and international law experts.
Conservative attorney and anti-Trump activist George Conway said Saturday, "This is essentially a confession by administration that it committed murder."
Immigration policy expert Aaron Reichlin-Melnick chimed in: "So the people on these boats are 'terrorists' who can be killed without any due process, but if they don’t die in the initial strike, they just get released and go home with a warning? Seriously?"
Former Obama staffer Tommy Vietor said, "So the administration's argument is that these men are dangerous narco-terrorists waging war against the US and thus deserved to be executed, but also that the US should send them home rather than to try prosecute them in court. Makes sense."
Political science professor Christopher Clary also added, "Enough evidence to try and kill them but not enough evidence to prosecute… what are we doing here exactly?"
Political attorney Robert Kelner also weighed in, saying, "This makes no sense, if we are supposed to believe this was a drug trafficking ship and the attack on the ship was legal."
"If that were so, why wouldn’t we detain the evil drug traffickers and prosecute them?" Kelner asked. "Congress needs to exercise its oversight authority. And reporters need to dig into this story."
