While speaking to reporters, Trump proclaimed that he, not Attorney General William Barr, is the top law enforcement officer in the country.
Trump said, “I’m actually, I guess, the chief law enforcement officer of the country, but I’ve chosen not to be involved, but he is a man of great integrity, but I could be involved if I wanted to be.”
Video:
TRUMP: "I'm actually, I guess, the chief law enforcement officer of the country." (The attorney general is the top law enforcement officer of the country.) pic.twitter.com/5ajK5CkTxB
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 18, 2020
Constitutionally speaking, presidents have no law enforcement power. The Attorney General is the top law enforcement officer in the country. Trump truly believes that his power is unlimited.
The President is not the top law enforcement officer in the United States. It is the job of the President to implement the laws, not enforce them.
Trump is attempting to assume the power of the Department of Justice for himself. The President’s comments show that the Attorney General is nothing more than his lapdog, as Trump thinks that he is running the Department of Justice.
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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