Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) on Monday spoke about President Donald Trump's “glaring at the death of democracy in his eyes” and “sources.”
Collins: Senator Murphy, when you see the developments that have happened in the last 48 hours, what are your concerns about this moment when we are with this proposal from the courts, the president, and his top two Or maybe they're the advisors who violate the court's ruling?
Murphy: Yes, listen, that is, to say that we are now staring at the death of democracy in our eyes is not an exaggeration. The heart of our democracy is that we observe court decisions. Criminal court decisions, civil court decisions, constitutional court decisions. No one is beyond the law. And whether we like it or not, the courts interpret the law.
Yes, throughout US history, courts are when the administrative department is exerting legal power, and beyond the power they have, when they are constrained by law or by the constitution. , have given judgments about when they are beyond the power they have. They regularly control whether an individual is in compliance with the law or violating the law.
If the US President says, what do you know, I don't care what the courts say, am I going to do whatever I want? It is essentially the end of the rule of law. If the President is not bound by our laws and the Constitution, why is someone else bound by our laws and the Constitution? This is a really terrible moment.
And no, they've been talking harshly so far, but I think the majority of these court orders are in compliance. I think there are questions about how well they adhere to the orders. But, as JD Vance and Elon Musk suggest, if they completely ignore order, it may be the greatest challenge to our democracy in our lives.
Collins: But are you saying we're not there yet?
Murphy: Well, hear this particular question: whether they are ready to openly violate the court's order. We're not there. They do not comply with existing court orders, but are in partial compliance.
But for example, if they openly declare that they don't agree with the court's order to resume USAID, or if they're going to oust Elon Musk from the Treasury Department. Clearly, in the most serious constitutional crisis, I definitely mean the last 100 years.
Collins: So what happens? I just want to play this game. If that happens, and you say you don't think it has yet, if they deny the court order, what's next? And it's not just a tweet or a true social post. They're telling the judge, we think you're wrong, we're not going to follow this. So what will happen?
Murphy: Well, I listen, I'm not an aggressive practice lawyer. But the first thing you do is go back to court and hold a regime or individual that is not compliant. And there is a series of remedies that the court can order if someone is emptied, including that the court is guilty. So there is a series of escalation steps –
Collins: But who is responsible for implementing it?
Murphy: So, ultimately, it's law enforcement. So there's a place that's a problem for you.
This is the law enforcement agency that controls the administrative departments that may ultimately have to enforce the order, so for a violation of the remedy order, it will ultimately be a remedy. This is why it suggested that there may not be any. So there is a crisis there that will ultimately become a civil and political crisis for the country. Listen, I hope we don't get there. I hope this is intense.
