Barr: ‘I Haven’t Looked At’ Whether 14th Amendment Ensures Birthright Citizenship

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15: U.S. Attorney General nominee William Barr testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee January 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. Barr, who previously served as A... WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 15: U.S. Attorney General nominee William Barr testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee January 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. Barr, who previously served as Attorney General under President George H. W. Bush, was confronted about his views on the investigation being conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Attorney general nominee William Barr on Tuesday startled Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) by saying he hadn’t “looked at” whether the 14th Amendment guarantees birthright citizenship.

The amendment does, in fact, say that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States…”

“It says right there in the 14th Amendment,” Hirono protested, asking if Barr would like to do away with the legal right ensured by the amendment.

“I haven’t looked at that issue legally, that’s the kind of issue I would ask [the Office of Legal Counsel] to advise me on, as to whether it’s something that’s appropriate for legislation, I don’t even know the answer to that,” Barr replied.

In October, President Donald Trump told Axios that birthright citizenship “has to end.” Constitutional scholars say another constitutional amendment — not an act of Congress or an executive order, as Trump suggested — would be needed to eliminate birthright citizenship.

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  1. Avatar for gregor gregor says:

    They have decided not to keep the Democracy given to us.

    Monsters all.

  2. Then Barr is not necessarily a US citizen. Hmmm.

  3. “You’re mistaken. You only think it means that.”

    Gaslighting Old Perverts

  4. For a nominee to the position of AG, Barr is ignorant of what I consider basics in the Constitution. He doesn’t know what’s in the emoluments clause, and he’s not familiar with birthright citizenship. Hey, Trump! Pick me!

  5. Wow, just wow. I thought legal precedent is what guide legal thought? How can one toss out the language in the 14th Amendment? How may cases have been built upon the words written 150 years ago?

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