Actor John Cleese, known for his roles in Harry Potter and Monty Python and the Holy Grail, made a now-deleted post on social media suggesting that Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House, should be “stopped by the neck” regarding his views on habeas corpus.
“Stephen Miller seems to be seriously considering eliminating ‘habeas corpus’,” Cleese remarked. “This principle has been fundamental to the rule of law for hundreds of years, so perhaps we should think of stopping Stephen Miller… by the neck if possible.”
His comments come amid discussions that the Trump administration is possibly contemplating suspending habeas corpus rights.
According to ABC27 News, habeas corpus literally means “you have a body” in Latin.
Cornell University Law School states that habeas corpus serves as a legal means to determine the legitimacy of a person’s detention. A habeas corpus petition is utilized to bring detainees to court to establish the legality of their imprisonment or detainment.
When questioned about the potential suspension of habeas corpus to manage issues related to illegal immigration, Miller clarified that “at the moment of an invasion, it can indeed be halted,” as reported by ABC News.
Miller elaborated, saying, “The Constitution is very clear. It is the supreme law, and the privilege of habeas corpus can be suspended during an invasion.”
Miller also suggested that suspending habeas corpus could be one of the “options” under consideration by the Trump administration, stating they are “actively monitoring” the situation.
