One Democratic member of the U.S. Senate is urging the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to enforce its recent order on President Donald Trump's administration — even if it means putting someone behind bars.
Earlier this month, SCOTUS issued a 9-0 decision calling on Trump to "facilitate" the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the administration admitted was mistakenly put on a plane to an El Salvadoran prison for terrorists. On Wednesday, Colorado Newsline reported that Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) is now expressly demanding the nation's highest court force the administration to comply with a contempt ruling.
"The Supreme Court’s got to step up and say, ‘All right, we’re going to start holding people in contempt of court.’ They have the ability to sanction," Hickenlooper told the outlet. "They can take the people, the officials who deny any culpability or any responsibility, they can bring them in and force them to testify, to come to the court. And if they don’t come, they’re in contempt, and then you lock them up."
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“I agree that that’s the most hideous, heinous act I’ve seen, where you can take an innocent person, pick them up for the wrong reason … and they put him in one of the most dangerous, insect- and vermin-infested prisons in the Western Hemisphere,” he continued. “That prison in El Salvador is notorious for how dangerous it is. And now they’re saying that they can’t get him out of there. I’m fully aware, and that will not stand. I cannot believe the Supreme Court’s going to allow that to stand.”
The Colorado Democrat appeared unaware that Trump — during a recent Oval Office meeting with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele — suggested sending "homegrowns" to El Salvador's CECOT prison. When Hickenlooper said he "disagree[d]" with the notion that Trump was referring to U.S. citizens, a reporter clarified to the senator that Trump indeed repeated the remark in a Fox News interview. Hickenlooper was reportedly aghast.
“No, he wants to send U.S. citizens down to …?” he said. “Well, again, if this doesn’t get the Supreme Court in action, I don’t know what will. But obviously at a certain point, and we’re close to that point, the country’s going to rise up."
Click here to read Colorado Newsline's full article.
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