WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stated that President Donald Trump’s increasing attacks on the judiciary have led to a constitutional crisis in the United States.
In an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Schumer criticized Trump’s recent attempts to impeach a judge who ruled against him in a case related to his efforts to deport Venezuelan immigrants. In various cases, judges and plaintiffs have accused Trump of disregarding or circumventing court orders as he confronts multiple legal challenges regarding his executive actions.
When asked if he aligns with experts who believe the U.S. is experiencing a constitutional crisis, Schumer affirmed, “Yes, I do.”
“Our democracy is under threat. Donald Trump is a lawless, angry individual. He believes he should operate like a king, acting without regard for the law and expecting judges to simply comply with his wishes,” Schumer expressed during his conversation with moderator Kristen Welker. The complete interview will air on “Meet the Press” this Sunday.
“We must counter this in every possible way. We have had over 100 cases in the courts where we have achieved significant success. In response to that success, Donald Trump has called for the impeachment of judges,” Schumer continued. “Democrats in the Senate will not support the impeachment of judges. Period.”
Federal judges are appointed for life by the Senate. Impeaching a judge requires a majority vote in the House of Representatives and a two-thirds majority in the Senate, amounting to 67 votes. Currently, Republicans hold 53 seats.
A constitutional crisis is defined as a political impasse that the Constitution cannot resolve. Some legal analysts suggest that Trump is undermining or laying the framework to delegitimize and ignore decisions made by a co-equal branch of the government.
Trump has denied any accusations of disregarding court orders. White House representatives have claimed that judges occasionally exceed their authority, including a recent ruling that halted a deportation flight to El Salvador carrying Venezuelans alleged to be gang members.
“I don’t trust him,” Schumer remarked. “We need to monitor him closely. Disobeying court orders jeopardizes our democracy, and we must strive to combat this situation.”
Catch the full interview this Sunday on Meet the Press with Kristen Welker. Be sure to check your local listings.
