Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) is sending a message to President Donald Trump as the president is suggesting sending federal agents to multiple cities across the United States.
During an appearance on CNN on Tuesday, Duckworth was asked about her reaction to Trump âthreatening to send federal Law Enforcement to Chicago and other cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Detroit.â
Duckworth â former U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and former combat veteran of the Iraq War â quickly fired back with her response as she told the president, âDonât even think about it.â
âThis is disgusting and it is the further politicization of our institutions which should be non-partisan,â Duckworth continued. âHe did it with the military when he sent National Guard troops against peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square. And now heâs done it in Portland and heâs coming to Chicago.â
âDonât even think about it,â she reiterated.
The Democratic senator challenged Trump to focus his efforts on legislation to combat gun violence.
âIf you want to do something about gun violence, call Mitch McConnell. Letâs have a vote on the floor today on universal background checks and straw purchases of guns,â she said. âLetâs go after gun trafficking.â
Duckworth continued, âYou want to do something? Call Mitch McConnell and have that vote. It would pass.â
See Duckworthâs remarks below:
Duckworthâs remarks came less than one day after Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) echoed similar sentiments in response to Trumpâs threat.
On Monday, Lightfoot released a four-page letter outlining her concerns about federal agents being deployed into the streets of Chicago. She also expressed her disapproval of Trumpâs remarks.
âWhat we do not need, and what will certainly make our community less safe is secret, federal agents deployed to Chicago,â Lightfoot wrote.
She added, âAny other form of militarized assistance within our borders that would not be within our control or within the direct command of the Chicago Police Department would spell disaster.â
Mayor Lightfootâs lette⊠by Block Club Chicago on Scribd
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Despite growing concern and criticism about federal troops being on the ground, the president has not suggested he would be changing his plans.
On Monday, he told reporters, âIâm going to do something, that I can tell you. Because weâre not going to let New York, and Chicago, and Philadelphia, and Detroit, and Baltimore, and all of these ⊠Oakland is a mess. Weâre not going to let this happen in our country.â
The president also said, âWeâll have more federal Law Enforcement, that I can tell you.â
