 |
By Michael Burke, The Hill
Republican Sen. Ben Sasse (Neb.) rebuked President Trump's latest attack against the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, warning Trump that the United States "is not some banana republic."
Sasse condemned Trump's tweets Monday afternoon in which the president criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions for pursuing criminal charges against two GOP congressmen.
Trump argued that Sessions should have taken into account the political ramifications of pursuing the cases against GOP Reps. Chris Collins (N.Y.) and Duncan Hunter (Calif.), who were both early backers of Trump.
"The United States is not some banana republic with a two-tiered system of justice - one for the majority party and one for the minority party," Sasse responded in a statement.
"These two men have been charged with crimes because of evidence, not because of who the President was when the investigations began," he continued.
"Instead of commenting on ongoing investigations and prosecutions, the job of the President of the United States is to defend the Constitution and protect the impartial administration of justice."
Trump earlier Monday took to Twitter to attack Sessions over charges brought against Collins and Hunter last month. The president suggested that Sessions had damaged the GOP's chances of retaining the seats in the November elections.
"Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department," Trump tweeted.
"Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff," he continued.
Sasse, who has vocally criticized Trump in the past on certain issues, also came to Sessions's defense last month after Trump lashed out at the attorney general. Sasse said at the time that he has warned Trump that firing Sessions "would be a very, very, very bad idea."
The Justice Department charged Collins in August with securities fraud and lying to the FBI about his efforts to give family members nonpublic stock information to help avoid thousands of dollars in investment losses.
The DOJ also charged Hunter and his wife, Margaret Hunter, with misusing $250,000 in campaign funds and falsifying campaign records filed with the Federal Election Commission. The congressman allegedly used the campaign funds to pay for family vacations, dental work, golf outings and more.
Collins, who has maintained his innocence, suspended his reelection campaign last month. Hunter, meanwhile, has claimed that the charges against him are politically motivated.
COMMENTS