[AG James\Trump Barr]
James: “President Trump’s threat to hold coronavirus funding hostage to cities and states across the country are the latest in his efforts to push a sinister political agenda that only aims to punish us all — citizens and non-citizens alike.”
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New York Attorney General Letitia James last night pushed back on comments both from President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney William Barr.
James first released the following statement after Trump today said at a press conference that he would consider holding off funding to help cities and states respond to the economic fallout of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) until certain “sanctuary city adjustments” are made:
“President Trump’s threat to hold coronavirus funding hostage to cities and states across the country are the latest in his efforts to push a sinister political agenda that only aims to punish us all — citizens and non-citizens alike. This is just another attempt to again feed to his base and push the same partisan ideology we’ve seen for the last three years. New York is proud of its status as a sanctuary state that welcomes and will fight to protect its immigrant residents — many of whom are fighting on the frontlines to battle the coronavirus. It is my sincerest hope that one day the president will wake up and realize the power of his words, until that day comes we will be ready to take legal action.”
James also released the following statement after Attorney General William Barr released a memo threatening to “monitor” and be “on the lookout for state and local directives that could be violating the constitutional rights and civil liberties of individual citizens” due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19):
“Despite the Trump Administration’s failure to do so, states are able to protect constitutional rights and enact policies to curb the spread of the coronavirus simultaneously. The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is clear that ‘the powers not delegated to the’ federal government shall be ‘reserved to the States.’ Make no mistake: U.S. Attorney General Barr is not the only one prepared to take legal action to guard the Constitution. My office will fight every day to defend it and the rights it affords the great State of New York.”
