President Donald Trump offered on Tuesday to “destroy” the career of an unnamed Texas state senator after a sheriff said he disagreed with legislation the senator wanted to introduce.
“State senator in Texas, he was talking about introducing legislation to require conviction before we could receive that forfeiture money,” a sheriff told Trump in a listening session.
“Can you believe that?” Trump interjected.
“And I told him that the cartel would build a monument to him in Mexico if he could get that legislation passed,” the sheriff continued.
“Who’s the state senator? Do you want to give his name? We’ll destroy his career,” Trump said, to laughter from those present.
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
A report by the Dallas Morning News identified the sheriff as Rockwall County Sheriff Harold Eavenson.
Eavenson declined to give the senator’s name during the meeting and in a phone interview with the paper later Tuesday, according to the report. He said he did not take Trump’s offer literally.
“He was just being emphatic that he did not agree with that senator’s position,” Eavenson said, as quoted by the Dallas Morning News. “I appreciated what the President said. I can assure you that he is on our side.”
This post has been updated.
