Rep. Barbara Lee Says Trump’s Syria Strikes Are Illegal

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) said that Trump’s strikes against Syria are illegal because he did not get authorization from Congress.

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Rep. Lee said moments before Trump announced the strikes on All In with Chris Hayes, “This is very dangerous. I suspect they’re going to use, if they strike, the 2001 authorization that I voted against because it was a blank check and any president has used this blank check, all presidents have since then, to use force and to conduct military operations. But I tell you, this president, if he’s going to conduct a military strike should come to Congress. We should debate the costs and consequences of it. And we should have a vote. In no way should he conduct this because this certainly would be an illegal strike and it would be very dangerous and tragic if this happens.”

Rep. Lee has been trying for years to get the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force repealed. After Trump dropped the Mother Of All Bombs in Afghanistan, Lee said, “No president should have a blank check for endless war, especially not this president, who is acting without any checks or oversight from the Republican-controlled Congress. I urge Speaker Ryan to call Congress back into session, so we can immediately repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force and put real restraints on President Trump’s warmongering.”

The Trump Syria strike is illegal. Obama tried to go to Congress and get authorization for a military response in Syria, but he was stonewalled by Republicans in Congress. After these strikes, Congress must act. Turning a blind eye to allowing this president unlimited military action is a disaster waiting to happenTrump is likely using the Syria strikes to distract from the Russia scandal.

It is time for this to stop. It is time to take this power away from Trump.

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