'If You Don't Like The Injunctions, Don't Do Illegal, Unconstitutional Stuff': Pramila Jayapal

2 days ago

During debate on the House floor, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) spoke in opposition to HR 1526, and tore into GOP attacks on district court judges.

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Transcript

00:00The lady is recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to H.R. 1526, a bill

00:06that would prohibit district courts from issuing nationwide injunctions. My colleagues on the

00:12other side of the aisle want you to believe that somehow these nationwide injunctions being issued

00:17by courts across the country against Donald Trump's illegal and unconstitutional actions

00:23are unfair. Well, here's the message. If you don't like the injunctions, don't do illegal

00:30unconstitutional stuff. That simple. Nationwide injunctions play an essential role in protecting

00:36our democracy and holding the political branches accountable. Without them, thousands or millions

00:42of people could be harmed by these illegal or unconstitutional government policies. Just look

00:48at Donald Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship. In a lawsuit brought in my home

00:54state of Washington, a Reagan-appointed federal judge, not a Democratic-appointed federal judge,

00:59a Reagan-appointed federal judge ruled that the order was, quote, blatantly unconstitutional

01:05because the 14th Amendment plainly states that, quote, all persons born in the United States

01:10are U.S. citizens. What's next? Stripping citizenship from U.S. citizens? That's in the Trump extremist

01:18playbook as well. So is, apparently, kidnapping and disappearing people, including those with

01:23legal status without any due process or getting rid of entire departments established by Congress

01:29or suppressing freedom of speech and dissent. These are the hallmarks of an authoritarian who

01:35wants to hold all power. And the courts are doing what they are supposed to do, issuing nationwide

01:41injunctions against this kind of abuse of power. Somehow my colleagues never complained about

01:46nationwide injunctions when dozens were issued against former presidents Obama and Biden.

01:51But now that it's against Donald Trump, they want to rig the rules to give the president

01:55free reign to do whatever he wants, regardless of whether it is illegal or unconstitutional.

02:02Well, get this. We do not have kings in America. Vote no on this bill.

02:07I yield back.

'If You Don't Like The Injunctions, Don't Do Illegal, Unconstitutional Stuff': Pramila Jayapal

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