CNN’s Pamela Brown and GOP Congressman Throw Down In Fiery Deportation Debate: ‘Let Me Finish My Sentence, Congressman!’
CNN’s Pamela Brown called out Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) during a fiery debate and accused him of trying to “create a moment” to get himself favorable attention from the Trump administration and his side of the political aisle.
McCormick joined CNN’s The Situation Room on Wednesday to discuss the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported to an El Salvador megaprison in what the White House has chalked up to an administrative error. The administration has pushed back on court orders to “facilitate” Garcia’s return, insisting he is a member of the MS-13 gang despite no previous gang convictions. Garcia entered the country illegally more than a decade ago and has been living in Maryland with his wife and three children.
McCormick argued that Garcia had already received “due process,” noting that judges had reviewed his status. Brown, however, pushed back on this, arguing Garcia had not received due process is when it comes to his alleged gang affiliation, which has not been proven in court and is the reason for his being deported to El Salvador.
According to McCormick, Garcia would need to be deported either way whether he is returned from El Salvador or not.
“The Supreme Court did weigh in and say that it agreed with the district judge saying that the U.S. administration,” Brown began before McCormick cut in and accused her of peddling fake news.
“No, it did not. It did not. That’s false reporting. You know that’s false!” the lawmaker said.
“Let me finish my sentence, congressman! I understand you’re trying to create a moment right now to try to get pickup, and that’s self-serving. That’s not serving our viewers,” Brown said.
“I think we know who is trying to create the moment here,” McCormick shot back. “We know that.”
Check out the full exchange below:
PAMELA BROWN: The Supreme Court did weigh in and say that it agreed with the district judge saying that the U.S. Administration —
RICH MCCORMICK: No, it did not. It did not. That’s false reporting. You know that’s false!
BROWN: Let me finish my sentence, congressman! I understand you’re trying to create a moment right now to try to get pickup, and that’s self-serving. That’s not serving our viewers.
MCCORMICK: I think we know who is trying to create the moment here. We know that.
BROWN: No, what I am laying out here is facts. The Supreme Court, the four page opinion, agreed with the lower court judge that it should, the administration should, quote unquote, facilitate his return. Now in terms of effectuate, it left it to the lower courts to clarify —
MCCORMICK: That’s not facts, by the way. Just so you know, that’s not facts.
BROWN: Everyone can read it, it’s online. And it said that the president does have foreign affairs protections, and that the district court judge should take that into account when providing that clarification. That’s exactly what was said. It was not a forceful opinion. It certainly had ambiguity, but that’s what the Supreme Court said. The president also says he is looking into deporting U.S. citizens who have committed violent crimes. Many legal experts say that’s just flatly unconstitutional. Do you agree? With the president on this case or do you think he should back off this threat?
MCCORMICK: I didn’t hear what he said specifically. I’m not sure what the context is, so I’m not gonna comment on what the context of that comment was because I don’t think the president would be inferring that he’s gonna break the constitutionality of due process for citizens of the United States. I think that’s absurd.
Watch above via CNN.
