Sen. Schiff Criticizes Trump Administration’s Military Strikes

During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) expressed strong disapproval of the Trump administration’s military actions against boats suspected of drug smuggling, labeling them as “a form of extrajudicial killing.”

Host Kristen Welker inquired, “I know you haven’t seen the video, but based on the information you have, do you think these boat strikes are legal?”

Schiff responded firmly, stating, “No, they’re not. They’re illegal. They’re unconstitutional. It is morally unacceptable to kill individuals stranded at sea. I agree with Tom that we must combat the drug crisis in this country, but it should be done through legal means. What’s happening here is neither legal nor constitutional. If the Department of Defense and the Secretary of Defense believe in their actions, the American public should also have a clear view of it. Watch that footage showing two people on a capsized boat who were intentionally killed and decide if that’s something to be proud of. The law of war makes it explicit that killing a person or destroying a ship in this context is against the law.”

He added, “The most troubling comment from Sen. Cotton was his assertion that it doesn’t matter what’s happening on that capsized boat, whether they’re calling for help or in distress. It does matter. It’s significant. I want to make it clear that I also view these attacks as extrajudicial killings. These boats are not a threat to the United States. Some are thousands of miles away, and if the reports are accurate, even this particular boat wasn’t heading toward the U.S. Engaging in such extrajudicial killing is a blatant violation of the law. Just because the government labels certain groups as terrorists or drug traffickers doesn’t grant the president the authority to kill them at sea. You can compile a list, but that doesn’t make it legal to take lethal action against them.”