Hoyer Discusses President Trump's Efforts to Undermine the FBI and the Urgent Need to Protect DREAMers on MSNBC’s Morning Joe
Press Types
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
January 30, 2018
Contact Info:
Mariel Saez 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe this morning to discuss President Trump’s efforts to undermine the FBI as well as the urgent need to protect DREAMers. Below are excerpts from the interview and a link to the video:
On President Trump’s Efforts to Undermine the FBI:
“Well, first of all, Joe, it's very concerning, ought to be very concerning to every American. The underpinning of America is that we are a nation of laws. And if, in fact, the President of the United States can pressure law enforcement, and as well try to pressure the courts, and the Justice Department, to skew the law, to undermine the proper administration of the law, then America is less safe, less secure, and less what America means to our people and to the world. So that it ought to be very concerning. You asked what we can do. First of all, we can raise our voices. You've been doing that; the press has been doing that; the public has been doing that; we need to keep doing that. Also, we need to oppose any legislation that would further undermine the administration of justice, and I would hope we would have legislation put on the Floor which would not only not undermine, but would try to protect, and would move towards protecting Mr. Mueller in particular, but also the sanctity of the law.”
On the Urgent Need for a Legislative Solution to Protect DREAMers:
"Majority Leader McCarthy and I, and John Cornyn, the Whip in the Senate, a Republican, and Dick Durbin, the Democratic Whip in the Senate… have been talking. We met with [the Trump Administration] yesterday. We met with General Kelly and Marc Short of the White House. We are trying to move forward to get an agreement. As I said, I am encouraged by the fact that the White House issued a paper that adopted the premise of protecting not just those who signed up for DACA, but those who are DACA eligible, as well, young people brought to this country, they had no decision in that, and have been productive in school, in work, in the military, and are people that, I think, the overwhelming majority, some almost 90% of the American public, said they ought to stay here, they ought to be productive American citizens. And so the President’s willingness to create a path to citizenship in return for some of the things he asked for in that document, some which we think are non-starters; which undermines family re-unification, we don’t think that’s appropriate; which undermines making available slots for those who are of diverse backgrounds, we think that’s probably a non-starter. But we’re for border security and we're prepared to talk to the President and work with the President and, yes, allocate some funds to make sure that the border is more secure.”
On President Trump’s Efforts to Undermine the FBI:
“Well, first of all, Joe, it's very concerning, ought to be very concerning to every American. The underpinning of America is that we are a nation of laws. And if, in fact, the President of the United States can pressure law enforcement, and as well try to pressure the courts, and the Justice Department, to skew the law, to undermine the proper administration of the law, then America is less safe, less secure, and less what America means to our people and to the world. So that it ought to be very concerning. You asked what we can do. First of all, we can raise our voices. You've been doing that; the press has been doing that; the public has been doing that; we need to keep doing that. Also, we need to oppose any legislation that would further undermine the administration of justice, and I would hope we would have legislation put on the Floor which would not only not undermine, but would try to protect, and would move towards protecting Mr. Mueller in particular, but also the sanctity of the law.”
On the Urgent Need for a Legislative Solution to Protect DREAMers:
"Majority Leader McCarthy and I, and John Cornyn, the Whip in the Senate, a Republican, and Dick Durbin, the Democratic Whip in the Senate… have been talking. We met with [the Trump Administration] yesterday. We met with General Kelly and Marc Short of the White House. We are trying to move forward to get an agreement. As I said, I am encouraged by the fact that the White House issued a paper that adopted the premise of protecting not just those who signed up for DACA, but those who are DACA eligible, as well, young people brought to this country, they had no decision in that, and have been productive in school, in work, in the military, and are people that, I think, the overwhelming majority, some almost 90% of the American public, said they ought to stay here, they ought to be productive American citizens. And so the President’s willingness to create a path to citizenship in return for some of the things he asked for in that document, some which we think are non-starters; which undermines family re-unification, we don’t think that’s appropriate; which undermines making available slots for those who are of diverse backgrounds, we think that’s probably a non-starter. But we’re for border security and we're prepared to talk to the President and work with the President and, yes, allocate some funds to make sure that the border is more secure.”