Texas state Sen. Konni Burton (R) said on Wednesday that she “will not be discouraged nor deterred” by President Donald Trump’s offer to “destroy” the career of an unnamed Texas state senator over legislation a sheriff disagreed with.
“I will not be discouraged nor deterred. The moment for reform of our system of asset forfeiture has arrived,” Burton wrote in a statement obtained by TPM Wednesday.
She said she has “never met with” Rockwall County Sheriff Harold Eavenson, who complained about the legislation in a listening session at the White House on Tuesday, but that she takes “exception to his comments.”
Eavenson referred to the state senator, whom the sheriff declined to identify, as “him” and “he” in his remarks to Trump on Tuesday.
“State senator in Texas, he was talking about introducing legislation to require conviction before we could receive that forfeiture money,” he said. “I told him that the cartel would build a monument to him in Mexico if he could get that legislation passed.”
“Who’s the state senator? Do you want to give his name? We’ll destroy his career,” Trump replied.
Eavenson later told the Dallas Morning News that he did not take Trump’s offer literally.
Sheriff tells Trump that state senator is doing something he doesn’t like
Trump: “Do you want to give his name? We’ll destroy his career.” pic.twitter.com/75y3t9zc54
— Steve Kopack (@SteveKopack) February 7, 2017
She was warned.
She was given an explanation.
Nevertheless she persisted.
Well, gee, it’s great that the sheriff didn’t take Trump’s offer to destroy a politician’s career literally, I’m sure Trump would never do something he said off the cuff like that…
The Republicans spent eight years railing against what they perceived as an authoritarian government, when it looks like all they wanted was an authoritarian government that they were running.
At least one elected Republican has a spine. Good for her. (Assuming she actually follows through with this essential anti-plundering legislation, of course.)
When is an authoritarian government not an authoritarian government? When it’s your authoritarian government.
(thanks to Ben Franklin sorta of)
Well, finally, a Republican from Texas with a good set of balls. Rare. Sad.