House Judiciary Committee Democrats have called acting DHS Secretary McAleenan to testify about being offered a pardon by Trump in exchange for breaking immigration laws.
In a new letter, they demand that McAleenan make himself available to the committee for questioning about this matter. And they’re also looking into reports that Trump also pressured his former DHS secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, to close the border in violation of the law. Her refusal to do so was one reason that Trump ousted her.
Democrats request the following information:
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
1. A list identifying all Department employees present for your meeting with President Trump in Calexico, California on or around April 5, 2019…
2. A list identifying all Department employees present for President Trump’s April 5, 2019 meeting with border patrol agents, including but not limited to any DHS personnel instructed by President Trump to not let migrants into the country.
3. Documents and communications relating to Secretary Nielsen’s meeting with President Trump on or about March 21, 2019 to discuss reinstating the zero-tolerance policy and closing the U.S. Mexico border at El Paso, Texas.
The letter also demands that any of these others who might have witnessed these conversations should be prepared to testify as well.
Democrats see a pattern of Trump using pardons or offers of pardons as a way to get around the law. The behavior goes beyond immigration. Trump has consistently floated pardons in the Russia scandal and other scandals to buy the silence or cooperation of others. In the case of the border, the president told border patrol agents to violate the law and then lie to a judge.
The White House claims that Trump is joking, but this president has a consistent habit of “joking” about letting people off the hook who commit crimes for him.
Democrats are investigating what’s really going on because abuse of pardon power to encourage or cover up crimes is an impeachable offense.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
