2020 Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg blasted President Donald Trump on Sunday morning for his comments about accepting dirt on a political opponent from a foreign nation.
“It’s both unbelievable and all too believable,” Buttigieg told “State of the Union” host Jake Tapper. “It is morally wrong, legally wrong, politically wrong.”
“You don’t accept help from foreign governments, especially at a moment when America is reeling from the fact that our democracy was successfully attacked and interfered with in the last election by a hostile foreign power,” he continued. “If you get an offer of material help from a foreign government, you call the FBI. This shouldn’t be difficult, this shouldn’t be complicated.”
When Tapper asked Buttigieg if he agreed with 2020 rival Sen. Kamala Harris’ (D-CA) promise to have her Justice Department prosecute Trump if she were elected, the South Bend mayor indicated that he’d leave that decision to the DOJ.
“I believe that the rule of law will catch up to this President,” Buttigieg said. “It doesn’t require the Oval Office putting any kind of thumb on the scale.”
In a stunning interview clip with ABC News reporter George Stephanopoulos that was released on Wednesday, Trump said he’d take damaging information on a 2020 rival from a foreign country and wouldn’t call the FBI.
The President later tried to backtrack his comments during a “Fox and Friends” interview on Friday, saying he’d “absolutely” report “incorrect or badly stated” information to law enforcement.
However, Trump refused to say if he’d turn down dirt if a foreign leader offered it during a normal meeting or summit.
Watch Buttigieg below:
Buttigieg responds to Trump's comments about accepting foreign dirt: "It’s both unbelievable and all too believable. It is morally wrong, legally wrong, politically wrong." pic.twitter.com/SwVnpymfMy
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) June 16, 2019
Go get 'em Petey!!
No argument here… but let’s not forget that the blame does not all fall to tRump here. McConnell and the entire GOP have a hand in this attitude too. If there had been any push back on tRump up to now, he wouldn’t feel he can get away with this kind of shit.
“It doesn’t require the Oval Office putting any kind of thumb on the scale.”
I don’t think Kamala meant it. She said “I believe that they would have no choice and that they should, yes…There has to be accountability."
That’s bascially the same as what Pete said.
Man, it’s something how often he puts his finger right on it. The whole Trump saga has been a nightmarish blend of reality and unreality. There are days when you’re literally struggling to believe seven impossible things before breakfast.
I’d like to get every Democrat, especially Biden, on the record as to whether they would allow their AG/DoJ to follow the trail of evidence and uphold the law with regards to Trump. Buttigieg’s answer was spot on.
Absolutely cannot let this go like we did with the corrupt Wall Street bankers back in 2008.