Trump used House staffers to write ‘Muslim ban’ behind their bosses’ backs!
The big story here is that Trump is an autocrat and has such contempt for Congress, including leading legislators from his own party, that he uses their employees to do his dirty work.
Senior staffers on the House Judiciary Committee helped Donald Trump’s top aides draft the executive order curbing immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations, but the Republican committee chairman and party leadership were not informed, according to multiple sources involved in the process.
The news of their involvement helps unlock the mystery of whether the White House consulted Capitol Hill about the executive order, one of many questions raised in the days after it was unveiled on Friday. It confirms that the small group of staffers were among the only people on Capitol Hill who knew of the looming controversial policy.
Kathryn Rexrode, the House Judiciary Committee’s communications director, declined to comment about the aides’ work. A Judiciary Committee aide said Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) was not “consulted by the administration on the executive order.”
“Like other congressional committees, some staff of the House Judiciary Committee were permitted to offer their policy expertise to the Trump transition team about immigration law,” a House Judiciary Committee aide said in a statement. “However, the Trump Administration is responsible for the final policy decisions contained in the executive order and its subsequent roll-out and implementation.”
The work of the committee aides began during the transition period after the election and before Donald Trump was sworn in. The staffers signed nondisclosure agreements, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Trump’s transition operation forced its staff to sign these agreements, but it would be unusual to extend that requirement to congressional employees. Rexrode declined to comment on the nondisclosure pacts.
It’s extremely rare for administration officials to circumvent Republican leadership and work directly with congressional committee aides. But the House Judiciary Committee has some of the most experienced staffers when it comes to immigration policy.
More from Salon:
Click here for reuse options!
Copyright 2017 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
12 responses to Trump used House staffers to write ‘Muslim ban’ behind their bosses’ backs!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
mea_mark January 31st, 2017 at 09:30
This will increase the chances for impeachment. The republican leadership is just not that important in tRumps eyes. Little Donald is going to do what he wants regardless of what anyone else wants. It’s time to move forward with impeachment or removal with the 25th for incompetence and being mentally and psychologically unwell.
Buford2k11 January 31st, 2017 at 10:23
this is all Bannon…trump has become a nuisance…and will not play his role as written…Donald is not in charge…Pence on one side, and Bannon on the scary side…we all knew that trump knew that he could not handle being president…that is why trump always told his morons, that he would appoint “smart people”…but, then we know how this is going…Bannon is emerging as a real dangerous person, in a very powerful position…Ryan and McConnell had better be very careful as to how they approach a pit viper, with nukes…we will see martial law before we see impeachment..
Suzanne McFly January 31st, 2017 at 13:56
I think pence is sitting there licking his chops knowing this fool will be impeached soon. I believe he will get rid of bannon as soon as the torch is passed. We think we have it bad now, just wait till that scumbag reaches the top.
Obewon January 31st, 2017 at 09:32
Some of the most experienced House Judiciary Committee staffers are constitutionally illiterate. Not knowing that a Muslim ban is unconstitutional!
The USA is in no way founded on the Christian religion.- George Washington’s Treaty of Tripoli, Ratified and signed into U.S. law by Founder John Adams POTUS02. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/55a3b46ca2f6c599aba7381a694aae43138c70093785c67e532e5dfd4dbe0338.jpg
Gina Bousquet January 31st, 2017 at 10:04
Con man, con President…
William January 31st, 2017 at 10:54
Republicans. Still blaming a religion for their f*ck-up https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8e4cef85a85c3a5f714af6b865af636d74b27bfbc120147536c762d580650bb9.jpg s.
Larry Schmitt January 31st, 2017 at 11:02
Right, all of those atrocities were committed by fine, upstanding American citizens.
amersham1046 February 1st, 2017 at 00:14
and some were penalized with Cabinet posts
William January 31st, 2017 at 11:13
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/69006929ad72b2f41dc467e8a983731c10862a9665b347140853fb0b8ec74a8b.jpg
Maryrworthington February 1st, 2017 at 08:07
Google is paying 97$ per hour! Work for few hours and have longer with friends & family! !mj539d:
On tuesday I got a great new Land Rover Range Rover from having earned $8752 this last four weeks.. Its the most-financialy rewarding I’ve had.. It sounds unbelievable but you wont forgive yourself if you don’t check it
!mj539d:
➽➽
➽➽;➽➽ http://GoogleFinancialJobsCash539HomeLineGetPay$97Hour… ★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★::::::!mj539d:….,……
Foundryman January 31st, 2017 at 11:57
Whatever happened to the ” I Alone can fix it” that was said during the election?
But anyway, it’s far fetched to me that republicans in congress didn’t know what their staff were doing. We cannot underestimate the level of republican corruption, they always say one thing and do another. They are all fully united and behind everything Trump wants to do and how he wants to do it.
amersham1046 January 31st, 2017 at 17:43
the boys in the back room, answerable only to the Big Orange