Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday tore into President Trump after he accused Democrats on Monday of « treasonous » behavior during his State of the Union address.
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday tore into President Trump after he accused Democrats on Monday of « treasonous » behavior during his State of the Union address.
Jeffries said Tuesday that treason is « not a laughing matter » but rather, a « serious crime embedded in the Constitution, punishable by death. »
« But since your commander in chief chose to raise it at a political rally, let’s have a discussion about treason, » he said.
« Is it treason for a presidential campaign to meet with a hostile foreign power to sell out our democracy and rig the election? »
Jeffries further questioned whether it was treason for a presidential campaign to « meet with Russian spies who promise information that was negative about a political opponent and then fail to report that meeting to law enforcement officials. »
He appeared to be referring to a 2016 Trump Tower meeting that included Donald Trump Jr., White House adviser Jared Kushner, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and a Russian attorney.
« How dare you lecture us about treason. This is not a dictatorship. It’s a democracy, » Jeffries said.
« And we do not have to stand for a reality show host masquerading as President of the United States. »
In a speech Monday, Trump suggested that Democrats not clapping for his address were guilty of treason.
Trump added the Democrats « would rather see Trump do badly than our country do well, » saying that was « very selfish. »
