A legal scholar minced no words Thursday evening on CNN, flagging what he called a "doomsday scenario" that may come to pass if part of President Donald Trump's agenda is dealt a fatal blow by the courts.
Anchor Erin Burnett asked panelists including former Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), a former prosecutor, if they believe Trump will abide by court rulings after he was dealt two blows Thursday.
"Yes I believe that President Trump will do what the courts tell him to do," Buck replied. "I also believe we have a $36 trillion debt. I also believe that President Trump won the popular vote with a mandate on immigration, inflation and to reduce federal spending."
Jamal Simmons, former communications director for former Vice President Kamala Harris, chimed in that the courts will "do their part," but Americans will need to as well.
ALSO READ: 'Driven to self-loathing': Inside the extremist website believed to 'groom' teen attackers
"We saw outcry in 50 states over the last couple days. You're starting to hear people speak up about this more often. This is going to be something where the American people are going to have to put their leverage on Republican legislators because I'm not sure, if the courts have a ruling — and you tell me — if the courts have a ruling, what happens if Donald Trump decides he doesn't want to abide by the traditional ruling? What's the recourse?" Simmons asked fellow panelist Ryan Goodman, legal scholar and law professor at the NYU School of Law.
"Nothing,' Goodman flatly replied. "That is the doomsday scenario that a lot of lawyers are worried about."
The Justice Department is the enforcement mechanism for a court order, Simmons added.
"If the president tells the DOJ not to comply with a court order, we're in a real jam," he said.
"That's right. That is the doomsday scenario. It hasn't happened yet," said Goodman, who later added, "What happens come the day that they do lose at the Supreme Court? Because I think some of these cases are just losers. And if they really want to push it, we're in a real constitutional crisis."
Simmons noted the Supreme Court gave the president immunity for official acts, meaning he can pardon whomever he wants.
"This is going to take Republican legislators holding this man accountable to actually follow the law and do what it is the country has been set up to do," he concluded.
Watch the clip below or at this link.
