White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Thursday that the U.S. Justice Department would appeal what he called two federal judges‘ “flawed” decisions to block President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban.
“As the President said last night, ‘The law and the Constitution give the President the power to suspend immigration when he deems it to be necessary in the national interest,’” Spicer told reporters at his daily briefing.
“The court didn’t even bother to quote the relevant statute in its opinion, which would have plainly shown that the President clearly has this authority,” he continued. “You have heard it before, but since the court didn’t, let me quote it again,” he said before quoting the relevant law.
Spicer noted that the DOJ had called a ruling against the order from a federal judge in Hawaii “flawed in both reasoning and scope.” That judge cited Trump staffers’ and allies’ previous comments on the ban to argue the revised order was primarily motivated by religious bias.
“The Department is exploring all available options to vigorously defend this executive order. We intend to appeal the flawed rulings,” he said. “Currently the Department of Justice is determining the legal strategy and timing. We expect action to be taken soon to appeal the ruling in the Fourth Circuit and seek clarification of the order prior to appeal in the Ninth Circuit.”
“The danger is real and the law is clear,” he added.
