Priebus: White House Has ‘Looked At’ Changing Law To Let Trump Sue Press

White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Oxon Hill, Md., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2017 file photo, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus speaks in Oxon Hill, Md. Priebus asked top FBI officials to dispute media reports that President Donald Trump's campaign advisers wer... FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2017 file photo, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus speaks in Oxon Hill, Md. Priebus asked top FBI officials to dispute media reports that President Donald Trump's campaign advisers were frequently in touch with Russian intelligence agents during the election, according to three White House officials. Democrats accused Priebus of interfering in a pending investigation. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) MORE LESS
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White House chief of staff Reince Priebus on Sunday said that President Donald Trump’s administration has “looked at” changing the law so that Trump can sue the press, though Priebus offered few details.

ABC News’ Jon Karl questioned Priebus on “This Week” about Trump’s suggestion in March that he might “change libel laws” in order to go after the New York Times.

“That would require, as I understand it, a constitutional amendment,” Karl said. “Is he really going to pursue that?”

“I think it’s something that we’ve looked at, and how that gets executed or whether that goes anywhere is a different story,” Priebus said.

“So you think the President should be able to sue the New York Times for stories he doesn’t like?” Karl pressed.

“I think that newspapers and news agencies need to be more responsible with how they report the news,” Priebus said. “I am so tired.”

“I don’t think anyone would disagree with that,” Karl said. “It’s about whether or not the President should have the right to sue them.”

“And I already answered the question. I said this is something that is being looked at,” Priebus said. “But it’s something that, as far as how it gets executed, where we go with it, that’s another issue.”

 

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