Constitution Not Adequate for President ‘As Evil as Trump...

By Simon CrerarShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb has said President Donald Trump's attacks on the judiciary seek to "weaken one of the only remaining pillars standing up to him."

Discussing the legality of strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea, Cobb—a senior administration lawyer in Trump's first term—said Americans were concerned about the president's "unprecedented" abuses of power.

"The Constitution, really, is not adequate to deal with a president as evil as Trump is—somebody who desires to accumulate and abuse power," Cobb said.

Why It Matters

Since early September, the United States has carried out strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean against alleged drug boats that have killed at least 83 people. According to the Trump administration, the attacks are legitimate, with Trump deploying his authority as commander in chief to take action against a "designated terrorist organization."

The U.S. has deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier and its strike group to the Caribbean Sea as the military's campaign on alleged drug smuggling vessels continues. The intensive military buildup is seen as a way to pressurize Venezuela's authoritarian socialist leader, Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. has accused him of heading a drug cartel, which he denies.

What To Know

On Sunday, Cobb discussed the president's actions on MS NOW's The Weekend, "The main concern is always his resort to violence and authoritarianism."

He cited Trump's deployment of the National Guard as an example, adding, "Never before in American history, I don't think, have most Americans been as concerned about their president and his demented narcissism leading him toward revenge and violence."

"Trump's abuses of power are unprecedented," the attorney added, saying the administration was committing war crimes in Venezuela and Colombia.

"There is a war, and we should be very concerned about it," Cobb said. "Lawyers and judges—and, certainly, soldiers this week—should understand that they don't have to follow illegal orders."

He said of the strikes on alleged drug boats: "There is no question under international law and domestic law that what's going on in those countries is murder. There's one standard—which is self-defense, imminent harm—that would allow you to kill civilians in a war or during peace time.

"And keep in mind, none of these people, if they were in the United States with a million times the amount of drugs that are on those tiny boats—they would be arrested and detained and they would go to prison. They would not be killed."

Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for the State Department, previously told Newsweek: "The U.S. is engaged in a counter-drug cartel operation to advance President Trump's pledge to secure our border, combat narco-terrorists, and stop the flow of deadly drugs into our country.

"Maduro is not the legitimate leader of Venezuela; he's a fugitive of American justice who undermines regional security and poisons Americans."

What People Are Saying

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement: "Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both U.S. and international law, with all actions in complete compliance with the law of armed conflict."

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said in English during a meeting with labor unions in Caracas last month: "Yes peace, yes peace forever. Peace forever. No crazy war, please!"

What Happens Next

The U.S.'s official designation of the Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization is set to take effect on Monday. The administration has said the organization is headed by Maduro, raising the prospect of possible U.S. strikes on Venezuela.

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