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You Can Be The Solution – An Open Letter To The Clerk of Bernalillo County, New Mexico

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Stayce Driskell, Lisa Taj McCellon, and their children, Lilyan, 11, Sophia, 9, and Jackson, 7.

525506_612057505478431_818982231_nThere’s nothing in New Mexico’s Constitution that would prevent same-sex couples from marrying, yet county clerks refuse to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples who apply. Lisa Taj McCellon, of GetEqual New Mexico and her partner Stayce Driskell, have been turned down three times. Lisa has written this open letter to Maggie Toulouse Oliver, (photo right) Clerk of Bernalillo County, asking her to reconsider.

An Open Letter to Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver
And, A Call to Action for Equality Advocates
STAND UP. BE THE CHANGE.

On June 26, 2013, Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defining marriage ) as between a man and woman was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States. According to the majority’s opinion, it was considered “unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment.”

For your reference:
The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America
“No person shall be…deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law…”

Just hours later, in a marriage equality action coordinated by GetEQUAL NM, two same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses by Bernalillo County Clerk, Maggie Toulouse Oliver. She and her staff indicated that the reason for her denial of marriage applications to same-sex couples was that the section headings on a sample form of marriage license application provided to County Clerks in NM Statute Annotated 40-1-18 uses the language “male” and “female”.

On March 19, 2013, Santa Fe City Attorney Geno Zamora issued a legal opinion that same-sex marriages are legal in New Mexico and called on County Clerks to issue marriage licenses. A Santa Fe city council resolution supporting same-sex marriage was also announced that day. “Marriage law in New Mexico is gender-neutral and does not define marriage as between a man and a woman,” said Geno Zamora, City Attorney. “New Mexico already recognizes valid marriages performed in other states between same-sex couples; it would violate our state’s constitution to deny equal rights in our own families.”

In response, Maggie immediately released “a statement on City of Santa Fe resolution”. Maggie’s staff handed copies of this statement to GetEQUAL NM and the couples who were denied marriage licenses while they waited for a face-to-face with Maggie to discuss why they were being denied marriage equality. In it, Maggie asserts:

“While the law may indeed permit marriage between same-sex couples, it also prevents those couples from effectively applying for a marriage license.”

She references the sample marriage license application form provided in NMSA 40-1-18 while making this assertion.

New Mexico is the only state in America whose laws governing and defining marriage are gender neutral.

NMSA 40-1-1 [Marriage is civil contract requiring consent of parties.] Marriage is contemplated by the law as a civil contract, for which the consent of the contracting parties, capable in law of contracting, is essential.

New Mexico marriage laws do not prohibit same-sex marriage:

NMSA 40-1-9 [Prohibited Marriages; Annulment] No marriage between relatives within the prohibited degrees or between or with infants under the prohibited ages, shall be declared void, except by a decree of the district court upon proper proceedings being had therein. A cause of action may be instituted by the minor, by next friend, by either parent or legal guardian of such minor or by the district attorney. In the case of minors, no party to the marriage who may be over the prohibited age shall be allowed to apply for or obtain a decree of the court declaring such marriage void; but such minor may do so, and the court may in its discretion grant alimony until the minor becomes of age or remarries. All children of marriage so declared void as aforesaid shall be deemed and held as legitimate with the right of inheritance from both parents; and also in the case of minors, if the parties should live together until they arrive at the age under which marriage is prohibited [permitted] by statute, then and in that case, such marriage shall be deemed legal and binding.

But what about that NMSA 40-1-18 form? Here’s what New Mexico law ACTUALLY requires regarding forms used to apply for marriage licenses:

“NMSA 40-1-17. [Blank forms required for records.] To insure a uniform system of records of all marriages hereafter contracted, and the better preservation of said record for future reference, the form of application, license and certificate provided herein SHALL BE SUBSTANTIALLY AS FOLLOWS {emphasis added}, each blank to be numbered consecutively corresponding with page number of the record book in the clerk’s office; all such blanks to be provided free of cost by the county for public use.”

 

The purpose of the form in NMSA 40-1-18 is clearly stated in NMSA 40-1-17: it’s a sample form provided “to insure a uniform system of records of all marriages hereafter contracted, and the better preservation of said record for future reference.” There are sample forms throughout NM Statutes which are clearly provided to simply illustrate required information that should be gathered, recorded and used in the execution of New Mexico State business. They are included in Statute to save time and effort (aka MONEY) at the State, County or other administrative level. Efficiency is the point of such forms in Statute. NOT INEQUALITY.

So, the solution is obvious. Maggie should change the language on the form that is causing her to deny New Mexicans access to the marriage equality she claims to support and that New Mexico law allows.

Yes, it IS just an issue of semantics; yes, it IS that simple to fix.

It is also true that those “male” and “female” application information section headings used on the sample form in NMSA 40-1-18 have been traditionally reproduced by County Clerks in presumably every county in New Mexico for a very long time. The shocking result of this lazy and unthinking tradition of reproducing that section heading language—or perhaps under the guise of it—is that New Mexico’s County Clerks have spent years illegally perpetrating inequality on New Mexicans that has no basis in law (with the notable exception of Sandoval County in 2004).

In denying same-sex couples marriage licenses solely based on the fact that they were not of the opposite sex, New Mexico’s County Clerks have been illegally taking it upon themselves to interpret New Mexico’s marriage laws to suit their traditions or beliefs or assumptions. There’s no law requiring this qualification of applicants. Yet, you can even find this requirement listed on some New Mexico County Clerk’s marriage license websites! Never mind the insult that every single one of them perpetrates this false requirement to every gay face that comes before them.

In denying same-sex couples marriage licenses solely based on the fact that they were not of the opposite sex, they have been illegally discriminating against New Mexicans by illegally taking it upon themselves to redefine the qualifications of marriage license applicants and/or illegally setting forth and enforcing what’s considered a prohibited marriage. Interpretation of law is NOT the duty or the right of New Mexico’s County Clerks.

In Bernalillo County, the County Clerk’s office gives no notice that same-sex couples are ineligible to apply for a marriage license (because they aren’t) and they do not ask for verification that the applicants are of the opposite sex on their version of the NMSA 40-1-18 marriage application form (because New Mexico law does not require couples applying for a marriage license to be of the opposite sex).

Instead, Maggie and her staff put Bernalillo County’s same-sex couples through the humiliation and degradation of “playing along” with the applicants when they walk in for marriage licenses. They hand them one of their printed versions of the NMSA 40-1-18 sample marriage license application form and ask them to complete and submit the application to their staff. They are given a number to wait in line. Once the couple is seated in front of one of the clerks with the power of granting that license, their privacy is invaded, carte blanche. The couple is asked for their driver licenses or other legal IDs and their social security cards, an expected request, as applicants must prove their ages and Social Security numbers. Without the permission or often even the knowledge of the applicants, the clerks check the status of the applicants’ sex/gender that is noted on their identifying documents. This is done despite no law anywhere which requires this piece of information to be verified before granting the marriage license and despite no law even allowing them to do so for the purpose of issuing a marriage license. These identifying documents are indeed required

by law – for the purposes specifically stated. On her website’s “On-line Marriage License Application” form, the Bernalillo County Clerk clearly states why she and her staff need to see certain identifying documents before issuing a marriage license:

“Both parties must present a current legal picture ID (ID must include your photo, name, and your birth date on the same piece of identification, i.e. a driver’s license, state issued ID or Military ID). Both parties need proof of Social Security numbers (Social Security identification can include tax returns, government documents, or voter registration certificate). Voter registration certificates can be obtained at the Bureau of Elections Office, located at One Civic Plaza, 6th Floor, Room 6007.”

Notice that you are not reminded to bring proof of which sex/gender you are. Also, you DON’T need a photo ID. You can use your birth certificate.

(It should be noted that in the last 24 hours, some changes have been made to the Bernalillo County Clerk’s marriage license area of her website. At time of release of this letter, the quotes from her website were still accurate. However, one major change to the marriage license requirements –namely a new item added to the top—was observed and may be an indicator of more to come.)

Reasons why you need identity documents are much less clearly stated on Maggie’s latest printed version of the sample NMSA 40-1-18 marriage license application form. The form that is handed to applicants who walk in to her office and ask for a marriage license application reads as follows:

“Please have either your current state issued picture ID, passport, military ID & proof of complete Social Security number; either your social security card, tax papers, or check stub.”

But, again, there’s no mention of needing to be of the opposite sex. (Just those pesky little applicant information section headings.)

Once the clerks granting marriage licenses for the County Clerk’s office secretly confirm the applicants are not of the opposite sex, they verbally refuse to accept their marriage license application, handing it back to the same-sex couple, in effect denying them their legal right to a marriage license. The usual explanation is “New Mexico law does not permit us to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples”. If applicants ask for further explanation, they are usually handed an unsigned, unaddressed, undated piece of paper with the following message printed on it:

“Regretfully, the County Clerk has been advised to not accept applications for Marriage License unless the following information contained in NM State Law is complete:

40-1-18. Form of application, license and certificate.

To the County Clerk: We the undersigned hereby make application to be united in marriage and certify that we are not related within the degree prohibited by the laws of this state; that neither is bound by marriage to another; that there exists no legal impediment to this marriage; and that the information contained herein is correct.

Male Applicant /Female Applicant

As this is a matter of State Law, the County Clerk encourages couples who are unable to meet the requirements of the application to contact their State Legislator.”

Let’s not bother to digress into debating the accuracy and appropriateness (or lack thereof) of this piece of paper. Just let it be noted that engaged couples are being turned away at the marriage counter because they are being systematically deemed invalid as a committed couple eligible for legal marriage. They are having their privacy invaded and are being discriminated against by the Bernalillo County Clerk’s office. The piece of paper above is what those couple have to show for this degradation and mistreatment when they walk out of the Clerk’s office. That, and their completed but unaccepted marriage license application. This surely is not at all what New Mexico marriage laws state should happen to marriage license applicants in New Mexico’s County Clerk offices.

Neither NMSA 40-1-17 nor NMSA 40-1-18 state a requirement that marriage license applicant couples should be of the opposite sex. Nowhere will you find a blank to fill in or a box to check asking if you are male or female. In fact, nothing in any of the laws governing the contract of marriage in New Mexico assert a requirement that there be one female applicant and one male applicant—though County Clerk’s frequently post . An assumption was made (or laziness abounded) in the drafting of the sample form in NMSA 40-1-18, surely, but nothing is set out as a requirement.

Further, no law instructs the County Clerks of New Mexico to interpret any section heading of any form. Just fill in the blanks, please! The sample forms throughout NM Statutes are clearly provided to simply illustrate required information that should be gathered and recorded, and they are also likely included in Statute to save time and effort at the County or administrative level. Again, efficiency is the point. NOT INEQUALITY. Yet, Maggie and her County Clerk colleagues appear to be interpreting that “male” and “female” section label as a definition of what qualifies marriage license applicants, despite that they are not required to monitor, and maybe even are prohibited from invading their privacy by asking about, the sex/gender of marriage license applicants.

Legal qualifications and prohibitions for parties applying to enter the contract of marriage are indeed clearly set out in the law. And nowhere in the law are same-sex parties prohibited or prevented from applying for a marriage license.

It’s important to note that in the statement Maggie’s staff provided to denied same-sex couples and GetEQUAL NM on June 26, Maggie states that County Clerks “are not allowed to use our own discretion in interpreting the law, but must follow the law”. She knows her place in New Mexico law. And it’s not in making or interpreting laws.

So, back to the obvious solution: Maggie should change the language on the form causing her to deny New Mexicans access to the marriage equality she claims to support and that New Mexico law allows.

As a matter of law, is Maggie allowed to change a section label on a form?

NMSA 40-1-17 clearly allows for deviation from the exact form provided in NMSA 40-1-18 (“SUBSTANTIALLY AS FOLLOWS”). It also clearly states the purpose of that sample form: “To insure a uniform system of records of all marriages hereafter contracted, and the better preservation of said record for future reference.”

Pro-marriage-equality Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver can easily and legally re-label (or even delete) section headings on her version of the sample NMSA 40-1-18 form, so long as she collects and records the same marriage license applicant information as every other County Clerk, as per NMSA 40-1-17. That change or deletion would eliminate the language she states is the sole reason she is compelled to deny marriage equality to her constituents. (Her interpretation of the purpose of including such a section label is prohibited by her own admission.) That changed form would also meet the requirements of being substantially the same form of application as required in NMSA 40-1-17, as it does indeed “insure a uniform system of records of all marriages hereafter contracted, and the better preservation of said record for future reference”.
It is, in fact, so easy (AND LEGAL) to make changes to the sample form provided (not perpetrated) to County Clerks by NMSA 40-1-18 that the Bernalillo County Clerk has already done it!

In previous versions of the marriage license application form provided by Maggie Toulouse Oliver to applicants applying in person in her office, she modified the sample NMSA 40-1-18 form to include a wedding-styled watermark graphic — an illustrated silhouette of a couple in formal attire. One of the people in the graphic appears to be a female – or maybe just female identified? – as they are dressed in a ball gown and the other appears to be male – or male identified? – dressed in a tuxedo. Marriage license applicants that have spoken with or accompanied GetEQUAL NM to the Clerk’s marriage counter made note and mention of this strange hetero-normative graphic on more than one occasion as it appeared to be in stark contrast to the equality-minded Clerk’s previously stated ideals. Was that graphic trying to imply that only heterosexual couples need apply? Or maybe just butch/femme couples? Not likely the latter. Coupled with the denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples and the inclusion of the “male” and “female” labels for the applicant information sections, one can surmise applicants were being put on notice that marriage equality was not accessible at the Bernalillo County Clerk’s office.

It was gratifying to note the sample NMSA 40-1-18 form had again been modified by her when GetEQUAL NM visited the Clerk’s marriage counter this week. Among other changes, the male/female wedding graphic watermark had been removed. Unfortunately, and surprisingly, Maggie’s new version of the sample NMSA 40-1-18 form she provided to applicants on June 26, 2013, DID still used “male” and “female” in the applicant information section headings. It was clear before they even wrote down their names that marriage equality was still going to be denied.
But there’s other GREAT news about Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s versions of the NMSA 40-1-18 sample marriage license application form.

Take a look at the On-line Marriage Application form provided at the Bernalillo County Clerk’s website:

It has the 2 marriage license applicant information sections labeled as “Bride” and “Groom”! “Male” and “Female” are nowhere to be found.

That’s right, Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver has done her job–as she swore to do; and, pursuant to NMSA 40-1-17, she has provided her constituents with a marriage license application form which is considered “substantially as follows”.

AND she has done the right thing. She has relabeled the applicant information section headings in such a way that she will not be compelled to secretly check applicants’ identity documents to illegally confirm their opposite sex/gender.

This is really good news. “Bride” and “Groom” are certainly not covered under identification laws – no one is legally considered a “bride” or “groom” like they are a “female” or “male”. While not all couples would like to be relegated to “bride and groom” (just like not all gay female couples –especially butch/femme couples–like to be collectively referred to as “ladies”), they are certainly common titles, a convention or tradition, if you will, that gives the culturally expected respect and honor to marriage license applicants on that very special occasion of seeking to be joined in legal marriage. Did you know that in many marriage equality states and countries, you get to decide if you want to be a “bride”, “groom”, etc., on your final officially recorded marriage certificate? You just pick–freely check a box and get what you choose without question or prequalification. You can both pick the same or something different. So, while Maggie’s new marriage applicant information section headings “bride” and “groom” are indeed very heteronormative in nature, they in no way require anyone to possess a particular type of genetalia to claim the title. This is AS IT SHOULD BE according New Mexico law and according to what’s right.

Let’s be real here. The excuse of the form shown in NMSA 40-1-18 that Maggie and her colleagues have used over the years to deny same-sex couples the very marriage licenses she claims to believe they deserve is weak-minded and steeped in apathy—not at all in keeping with the skill set of the brilliant public service official I elected. It’s hiding behind tradition, avoiding conflict and thereby turning a willful blind eye to institutionalized oppression, illegal discrimination and the systematic segregation, degradation and socio-economic disempowerment and destruction of New Mexican families with same-sex partners. And, it’s UNNECESSARY. The laws and common sense clearly allows for another choice. New Mexicans, the American people and individuals across the globe support the end of oppressive practices in government. This will be a win-win situation.

Even IF NM law intended for her to deny same-sex couples the rights to marriage that she gives opposite-sex couples, it’s A VIOLATON OF CIVIL RIGHTS to define marriage as just between a man and a woman! And, even if NM courts and legislators haven’t officially handled that theoretical problem yet, it’s the law of the land, handed down by the Supreme Court of the United States. No one would challenge her and win if she granted same-sex couples marriage licenses today. Maggie herself stated clearly that she hopes and expects to lose Griego v. Oliver while meeting with GetEQUAL NM members and this author, marriage license applicant Lisa Taj McCellon, on June 26, 2013. Summary of the ACLU/NCLR New Mexico District Court case details from equalityontrial.com:

“The couples’ suit argues that New Mexico’s lack of marriage equality violates the New Mexico Constitution on five counts:
1) It denies same-sex couples equal protection under the law and discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation.
2) It violates the state constitution’s Equal Rights Amendment by discriminating on the basis of sex.
3) It denies same-sex couples’ due process rights “to marry, to privacy, to freedom of intimate association, and to other fundamental liberties”

4) It deprives couples of their right to freedom of speech and expressive association.

5) It violates the state constitution’s provision regarding the “natural, inherent and inalienable rights” of all citizens to “seek[] and obtain[] safety and happiness.”

In terms of judicial remedy, the complaint asks the state court to rule that any refusal of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in New Mexico is unconstitutional and to direct county clerks to authorize the issuance of licenses to all couples regardless of sexual orientation.”

And the entire planet is watching New Mexico because of our uniquely gender neutral marriage laws. A move forward on the equality front in our state will set off a nationwide domino effect. And thousands of people everywhere will stand behind anyone who bravely stands up for everyone. (Look to how people across the globe are responding to the actions of Texas State Senator Wendy Davis.)

Bernalillo County’s Clerk, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, is practically begging for us to push her hand in this so that she can step up and be the leader she wants to be. In that meeting on June 26, discussing why she denied this author and her same-sex partner, Stayce Driskell, a marriage license, Maggie said, “I am NOT the problem” to which McCellon replied, “I KNOW! That’s why I am bothering to have this conversation with you. I believe YOU ARE THE SOLUTION to the problem!”

STAND UP, Maggie.

BE THE CHANGE, Maggie.

You’ve got the power, and we’ve got your back.

CALL TO ACTION: All people everywhere who support full equality for everyone and who are willing to openly support Maggie pushing it forward, should share this letter, talk about this issue, contact Maggie (and those enforcing YOUR rights to equality) and #StandWithMaggie.

Peace, love and equality for all,
Lisa Taj McCellon

 

LISA TAJ MCCELLONLisa Taj McCellon is a volunteer for GetEqual New Mexico.

Lisa and her spouse, Stayce Driskell were married legally in Iowa in May of 2009, and had a fairy tale non-legal wedding in in New Mexico in September in front of family and friends. The couple lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with their  three children.

You can reach Lisa through her Facebook page or through Twitter.

 

Photos are from Facebook

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News

Trump Doubles Down Calling Egg Prices ‘Too Low’ as Costs Soar to Record Highs

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In the days leading up to Easter, President Donald Trump has repeatedly—and falsely—claimed that egg prices have plummeted to the point of being “too low,” baselessly citing steep double-digit declines—even as Americans face record-high prices at the grocery store.

“The egg prices are down 87 percent, but nobody talks about that,” the President said on Friday. “You can have all the eggs you want, we have too many eggs, in fact, if anything the prices are getting too low.”

Trump campaigned on the promise he would lower the price of groceries “on day one,” a promise that three months later is not only unfulfilled, but in some cases reversed: overall grocery prices have risen.

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On Thursday, Trump claimed the price of eggs had dropped 92%, while berating a reporter and his Federal Reserve Chairman.

“The price of groceries are substantially down,” the president falsely claimed.

The price of eggs, you know, when I came in, they hit me with eggs. I just got there, I was here for one week, and they started screaming, ‘Eggs have gone through the roof.’ I said, ‘I just got here.’

“They went up 87%, and you couldn’t get them,” Trump told reporters. “They said, ‘You won’t have eggs for Easter,’ which is coming up. Happy Easter, everybody.You won’t have eggs for Easter.”

“And we did an unbelievable job, and now eggs are all over the place and the price went down 92 percent,” he claimed.

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Last week on Monday, Trump had claimed, falsely, that egg prices had dropped 79%.

Egg prices, Newsweek reported on Wednesday, “continued to climb despite recent efforts by the Trump administration to combat the shortage brought about by the ongoing bird flu with imports of Turkish eggs. The CPI egg index jumped by 5.9 percent from February and was up 60.4 percent compared to March 2024, and the average price for a dozen grade A large eggs climbed 5.6 percent to a record $6.23.”

Moe Davis, the well-known retired U.S. Air Force colonel, attorney, and former administrative law judge, posted to social media a federal government chart of egg prices.

“According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” Davis wrote, “the price of a dozen eggs in March was $6.23, the highest price ever recorded and 26% higher than in January when Trump took office. Of course if Trump says egg prices are down then the MAGA cult is obliged to say egg prices are down.”

Watch the video above or at this link.

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Image via Reuters

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The Trump White House is coming under fire for what appears to be an attempt to mock the U.S. Supreme Court, the facts in the case of a Maryland man wrongly deported to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, and The New York Times.

The White House’s official account on the social media platform X posted a “corrected” version of a New York Times story—corrections that have drawn concern and scorn from the legal community and political commentators.

“Senator Meets With Wrongly Deported Maryland Man in El Salvador,” read a screenshot of the Times’ headline.

But the White House’s version (below), complete with red ink and cross outs, reads: “Senator Meets With MS-13 Illegal Alien in El Salvador Who Is Never Coming Back.”

The White House added remarks saying, “Fixed it for you, @NYTimes. Oh, and by the way, @ChrisVanHollen — he’s NOT coming back.”

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) traveled to El Salvador this week and, after several days, was finally permitted to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia—the legal U.S. resident whom the Trump administration has admitted in court it wrongly deported. Multiple courts, including the Supreme Court, have ordered the administration to “facilitate” his return. Yet the Trump administration appears to be refusing.

Friday’s claim that Abrego Garcia is “never coming back” was taken as a serious statement of intent by some.

Attorney Aaron Regunberg wrote: “The White House is saying he’s ‘never coming back’ — they are explicitly declaring they will violate a unanimous Supreme Court order.” Calling out Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Regunberg wrote: “you said this was your red line that would trigger ‘extraordinary action.’ So…where the f— are you?”

“2 telling things here,” offered The Washington Post’s senior political reporter Aaron Blake. “1) White House crosses out ‘wrongly,’ despite repeatedly acknowledging its error in court. 2) ‘who’s never coming back’ is basically taunting SCOTUS. Signals the opposite of any intent to ‘facilitate’ his return.”

“The White House press shop lies and claims Mr. Abrego was not wrongfully deported, despite having acknowledged that fact at every single stage of the court process; at the district court, the circuit court, and the Supreme Court,” noted attorney Aaron Reichlin-Melnick. “They are openly contemptuous of the truth.”

Civil rights attorney Patrick Jaicomo, replying to the White House, wrote: “There is a mistake in the headline. You didn’t wrongly deport Garcia. You wrongly imprisoned him without due process. So, fix your mistake, as the courts have ordered. You don’t have to keep doubling down on bad decisions.”

Attorney Dilan Esper added, “I’ll remind you that the federal judges issuing orders see this.”

Veteran journalist John Harwoood called it, “disgusting fascism,” and wrote that “the Trump WH is garbage from top to bottom.”

Opinion writer Magdi Jacobs noted, “They’re moving from evading the judiciary to openly mocking it. This is very dangerous territory.”

Some others addressed what they appeared to suggest was the juvenile nature of the White House’s post.

“When you graduate from 4chan and land your first job at the White House,” wrote Talking Points Memo publisher Josh Marshall.

“The Trump admin really wants to distract people from the fact that it illegally sent someone to El Salvador in violation of a court order & binding law, either out of malice or sheer incompetence. No amount of s—posting will change that,” said Reason magazine’s Billy Binion.

“This is the evil of the Trump White House,” remarked Fred Wellman, an Army veteran, political consultant, and the host of the podcast “On Democracy.”

Journalist and author Robert Lusetich observed: “The White House, an ever-lasting symbol of the power, dignity and greatness of the United States. Now, a trolling meme account.”

Anti-gun-violence activist Fred Guttenberg declared the White House is “staffed by pathetic punk 2nd grade pre pubescent children.”

Journalist James Surowiecki commented, “Your tax dollars are paying for this childish cr–.”

See the White House’s social media post above or at this link.

 

Image via Reuters

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From the outset of his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump signaled that a central focus of his presidency would be targeting and exacting retribution against his critics.

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In keeping his retribution vow, Trump in just three months—often with the use of the power of his executive orders—has targeted for retribution numerous top law firms, revoked the security clearances of dozens of top national security experts, former government officials, and former political opponents. He has targeted top universities, threaten to defund millions of dollars or more in critical research grants, and declared top news outlets CNN and MSNBC “corrupt” and “illegal.”

Just days after the 2024 election, NPR reported that during the campaign, “Trump made more than 100 threats to investigate, prosecute, imprison or otherwise punish his perceived enemies, including political opponents and private citizens.”

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On Thursday, Trump threatened to go after one of his top legal critics: CREW, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonprofit legal and ethics watchdog that has been working for years to hold him (and others) to account, often by suing.

Asked by a reporter what group he would like to see have their tax exempt status removed, Trump replied, “Well, we’ll be making some statements, but it’s a big deal.”

“They’re so rich and so strong, and then they go so bad, they’ve earned so much by being a member of this country, you know, a member of this group, this beautiful group of people in this country, and then they go and they abuse their power like that,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Thursday afternoon. “I think it’s, you know, I think it’s very sad.”

“I have a group named CREW,” he continued. “CREW. You ever hear of it? I think it’s CREW, and they have a guy that heads CREW. It’s supposed to be a charitable organization. The only charity they had is going after Donald Trump. So we’re looking at that.”

“We’re looking at a lot of things, but if you take a look at CREW, what they’ve done, and I think it was a very big abuse, but we’re going to be finding out pretty soon.”

During Trump’s first and second terms, CREW sued Trump or his administration for alleged emoluments clause violations, alleged Presidential Records Act noncompliance, and challenged some of his executive orders. It also represented voters in a lawsuit attempting to use the 14th Amendment to remove him from the ballot, claiming his role in the January 6, 2021 insurrection was constitutionally disqualifying.

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In January, CREW was part of a lawsuit suing to “block Trump’s illegal plan to fire government workers,” and in February, CREW sued the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) “to compel transparency.”

CREW, in a statement to NCRM, vowed to continue its work.

“For more than 20 years, CREW has exposed government corruption from politicians of both parties who violate the public trust and has worked to promote an ethical, transparent government,” CREW Vice President of Communications Jordan Libowitz said. “Good governance groups are the heart of a healthy democracy. We will continue to do our work to ensure Americans have an ethical and accountable government.”

Legal experts are blasting Trump’s threat.

“It is literally a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison for the President, VP, or any senior White House employee, to ‘request, directly or indirectly, any officer or employee of the IRS to conduct … an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer,'” wrote attorney Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council.

“The Trump administration has gone after law firms, they’ve gone after universities, and they’re now going after civil society, including groups like @CREWcrew. They want to silence any opposition to their extreme agenda,” added the National Women’s Law Center.

“President Trump is now threatening to weaponize the IRS against nonprofit organizations like @CREWcrew,” wrote Public Citizen. “He is attacking our most basic right: to say what we believe without fear of government prosecution. We proudly stand in solidarity with our friends at CREW.”

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READ MORE: ‘Stunning Admission’: GOP Senator Says Colleagues ‘Are All Afraid’ of ‘Retaliation’

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