Harris hits Trump as a 'lawless president' over reported border pardons offer
White House contender Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook McEnany says Juneteenth is a very ‘meaningful’ day to Trump MORE (D-Calif.) criticized President Trump after The Washington Post reported that he’s offered pardons to officials who are willing to expedite the construction of a border wall.
The Post story noted Trump had told aides they should take actions including seizing private land or disregarding environmental regulations, citing current and former officials.
Trump also said he would be willing to pardon aides who were found to have engaged in any wrongdoing to accomplish that goal, according to the Post, though an unnamed official told the newspaper the president was joking about the pardons.ADVERTISEMENT
“Donald Trump is dangling pardons for subordinates who would break the law to build his vanity project on the southern border,” Harris tweeted, along with a link to the Washington Post report.
“Let’s be honest here: Trump is a lawless president.”
Donald Trump is dangling pardons for subordinates who would break the law to build his vanity project on the southern border.
Click Here: los jaguares argentinaLet’s be honest here: Trump is a lawless president.https://t.co/3awSuPusvv— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 28, 2019
Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, another Democratic presidential candidate, also called out Trump over the Post’s story and issued another call for impeaching Trump.
“We can’t become numb to these stories: Trump has promised to pardon government workers who break the law to build a wall we don’t need,” O’Rourke tweeted. “This is the consequence of failing to impeach him: He believes he’s above the law—and he’ll keep acting like it, until we hold him accountable.”
We can’t become numb to these stories: Trump has promised to pardon government workers who break the law to build a wall we don’t need. This is the consequence of failing to impeach him: He believes he’s above the law—and he’ll keep acting like it, until we hold him accountable. https://t.co/tMrVwxVIMm
— Beto O’RourkeBeto O’RourkeBiden will help close out Texas Democrats’ virtual convention: report O’Rourke on Texas reopening: ‘Dangerous, dumb and weak’ Parties gear up for battle over Texas state House MORE (@BetoORourke) August 28, 2019
The White House did not return The Hill’s request for comment on Wednesday regarding the Post’s reporting.
The promised 500-mile border wall was a signature proposal in his 2016 election. He has told crowds at campaign rallies that the wall is being built and accused the media of spreading lies that it’s not.
The Post reports that 60 miles of barrier to replace current fencing at the southern border has been completed in Trump’s first term, which is about one-tenth of the barrier Trump promised voters.