'Oh come on!' GOP lawmaker snaps as CNN delivers civics lesson on Constitution
Republican Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) aimed his anger toward the news media when CNN's John Berman asked about the constitutional powers of federal judges on Tuesday.
Berman's question had to do with the attacks the Trump administration has aimed at U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who ordered planes carrying Venezuelan migrants to return to the United States instead of onward toward a prison in El Salvador. At issue was the Constitutional right to due process, which the detainees did not receive before being loaded onto the planes.
The administration ignored the judge's order, then publicly mocked him and refused to answer his questions at a Monday evening hearing.
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Burchett claimed he had "evidence" that the deportees "are criminals, and I'll never understand why CNN takes the side of a bunch of murderers that have come into our country illegally. And, I realize you all have...to make your stand, but that is complete nonsense. And the American public's not buying it. Listen, this is an act of war by these countries."
Berman interjected, "Congressman, the media didn't write the Constitution, the founding fathers did... All I'm asking you — and you are an elected member of Congress, and we certainly respect that role — what your advice is to the White House? Do you think that the White House has the responsibility to follow rulings from the federal judiciary?"
Burchett answered that Trump has the authority to protect the country from criminals, and blamed the judge for "taking the side of a bunch of criminals."
"He hasn't taken any side yet, congressman. All he's done is put a stay on the White House action here so that he can review their use of, their novel use, of the alien enemies —"
"Oh, come on! These guys, listen, these guys — the difference between God and these judges is God knows he's not one of these judges. They're arrogant. They practice this type of thing all the time. And when if you had a conservative one doing it, you all would be raising total hell."
"Again, congressman...no one's taking a side here. I'm asking you about the Constitution. Is asking about the Constitution taking a side?"