Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) said Sunday on ABC's “this week” that President Donald Trump was trying to take control of power for “corrupted purposes.”
Partial transcripts as follows:
Raddatz: You used an incredibly strong language. Constitutional crisis. It's seriously unconstitutional. A rather surprising language.
Murphy: Yes, listen, I think this is certainly the most serious constitutional crisis the country has faced since Watergate. The president is seizing control of power and attempting for corrupt purposes. The president wants to be able to determine how and where the money will be spent so that he can reward his political friends. He can punish his political enemies. That is the organs of democracy.
You are the pardon given to the rioters on January 6th, including the most violent person who beat police officers on their heads with baseball bats, and the wholesale of political violence, next to the pardons of political violence. Standing next to the overall support of violence. He is trying to crush his opposition by making them fear physical violence and fearing losing federal funds. And yes, this is a red warning moment when the whole country must realize that our democracy is at stake. And for what? The acquisition of government billionaires. We're sure we'll talk about this, but Elon Musk is among the federal agencies trying to steal our money.
Raddatz: But, but let's say it now. They want to cut federal budgets. They all oppose it's corruption or something. They want to cut federal budgets and labor. Is there any problem with that?
Murphy: Well, I don't, but there's no evidence that it's the ultimate goal. With USAID, they sent many people homes who were still paid. And I think you have to ask, why are they doing this when it's not actually gaining savings? And for me, once again, the reason is that people like Elon Musk are in a position to gain from the closure of USAID. It will reduce security much more in America's world, but it will help China. USAID is a thorn on the Chinese government's side. Elon Musk has many major business interests within Beijing. And making Beijing happy will lead to the economic benefits of Elon Musk and many billionaires outsource their work to China.
RADDATZ: Senator, you have a court process working. The judge is currently banning the Elon Musk team from the The Treasury database. They blocked Trump's birthright executive order. So why not make the system work?
Murphy: Well, first of all, we don't know if it's working now. Like the Head Start Program and Community Health Centre, agencies there continue to receive reports that they have not actually received the funds they need to pay. So I think there are big questions as to whether the administration is actually implementing court orders. And the pace of this attack on the Constitution in order to serve the billionaire rank is absolutely dizzy.
And you have to carry out the serious opposition. You cannot rely on the court. Ultimately, we must bring the American people into this conversation as our Republican colleagues will need to ultimately stop this in the House and Senate. If the challenge to the Constitution and the billionaire acquisition is very serious and urgent, then we cannot rely on the court system.
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