Giuliani Said Trump Asked Him How to Ban Muslims ‘Legally’
According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Trump administration has refused to release a memo from the commission established by former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani concerning Donald Trump’s failed Muslim Ban, despite a federal court’s order to produce the document.
“Under a federal order, the memo was to be produced on Friday,†ACLU of Michigan’s statement on the matter reads, “but the Trump administration objected late Friday night, claiming, among other things, that a federal court cannot require the President to release documents.â€
The ACLU of Michigan, in conjunction with the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL), challenged the president’s “travel ban†in federal court, and has called on the White House “to be transparent on the issue.†The judge had previously directed the Trump administration to produce the document by May 19th.
During a January appearance on Fox News, Giuliani explained the process that led to the memo’s creation. “When [Trump] first announced it, he said ‘Muslim Ban.’ He called me up, he said, ‘put a commission together, show me the right way to do it legally.’†Watch:
“If, as the administration claims, the Executive Order is not a Muslim Ban, then why is the administration refusing to turn over the Giuliani memo?†Miriam Aukerman, Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Michigan released in a statement. “What is in that document that the government doesn’t want the court to see?â€
Nabih H. Ayad, ARCL founder, echoed Aukerman’s sentiment. “The memo will help shed light on the intentions behind the President’s Executive Order. And if those intentions support the public statements that Mr. Giuliani made about looking for a legal explanation for a ban on Muslims, the court needs to know this.â€
Both the ACLU and ACRL intend to return to court to fight for the memo’s release.
To comment on this article and other NCRM content, visit our Facebook page.
H/T: The Hill