GOP lawmaker derided for 'not attaching name' to quote upholding 'basic tenet of US democracy'

19 March

President Donald Trump, SpaceX/Tesla/X.com leader Elon Musk and other MAGA Republicans are calling for federal judges who block the president's executive orders to be impeached. One of Trump's targets is U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who temporarily blocked the deportation of Venezuelan nationals allegedly associated with the dangerous Tren de Aragua gang.

Trump has been angrily railing against Boasberg, resulting in a strong rebuke from U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 18, Roberts stressed that it is wildly inappropriate for Trump to be calling for the impeachment of federal judges simply because he disagrees with a ruling.

The following day, Politico published an article detailing the "headache" that the push to impeach federal judges is giving to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana). One of the interviewees, a House Republican quoted anonymously, told Politico, "I do not support impeaching a sitting judge based solely on a decision with which I disagree." And as Semafor's David Weigel sees it, the fact that the lawmaker requested anonymity is a sad reflection of the state of U.S. politics.

On the Musk-owned X.com, formerly Twitter, Weigel posted, "Amazing quote to not attach your name to." And Weigel's comment is receiving a lot of reactions.

Chuck Todd, former host of NBC News' "Meet the Press," was in complete agreement with Weigel.

Todd tweeted, "The fact that a basic tenet of American democracy is something an elected official is afraid to publicly put their name to is alarming. Pure and simple. This is the fear that electeds have with the MAGA base, which is a minority in this country, not a majority."

U.S. News & World Report's Olivier Knox posted, "quite the mood."

Vermont-based Democrat Peg Manley tweeted, "The Cowardice of especially House Republicans have put us in this place. If you cannot speak up when our democracy is being dismantled, you do. Or deserve your seat MAGA is a MINORITY of US voters."

Nicholas Sarwark, former chairman of the Libertarian National Committee (LNC), posted, "Why do editors keep allowing this kind of anonymity?"

Author Scott Crass commented, "Yet if it ever hit the floor, I'd bet that principled, anonymous R would vote with Trump."

X user Joseph Wallace wrote, "Ironically if they speak out they eventually get replaced by worse and then where are we. At least if we keep those few maybe we have a chance at better votes when the rubber meets the road."

From Your Site Articles