Republican Tim Burchett lashes out at CNN host in debate over Trump deportation flights
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., sparred with CNN host John Berman on Tuesday over whether a federal judge had the constitutional authority to block the Trump administration’s deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act.
The administration is caught in a legal fight with a federal judge over President Donald Trump invoking the Alien Enemies Act to target members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua for deportation.
Hours after invoking the act, Judge James E. Boasberg, a President Obama appointee, granted a temporary restraining order preventing the deportation of five Venezuelans and ordered the plane they were believed to be on to return to the United States.
During an appearance on CNN, Burchett slammed the judge as an «activist» and accused him of «political overreach.»
CNN host John Berman pushed back on the Republican’s comments, asking him if he took issue with «a federal judge interpreting federal law» or if he thought the judge was «unlawfully confirmed by the Senate.»
Burchett doubled down on his criticism of the judge, saying that the people the administration was targeting for deportation were criminals, before he took a jab at CNN.
«I never understand why CNN takes the side of a bunch of murderers that have come into our country illegally.
