Fresh Take: Tom Homan claps back at Gavin Newsom's dare: "No one's above the law"
Border advisor of Trump reacts to Newsom's "arrest me" invitation amidst Californian unrest due to ICE arrests.
Former Border czar Tom Homan threw some serious shade at California Governor Gavin Newsom after the latter dared him to roll up his sleeves and make a move against him. The debate dates back to Newsom's defense of California Democrats' pushback on President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard.
Tom Homan wasted no time in firing back when he joined "Fox & Friends" to respond to Gavin Newsom's bold statements. The governor had issued a challenge to Homan following his warnings to Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass regarding federal charges for impeding ICE operations throughout the city [NY Post].
"He's a tough guy, why doesn't he do that [arrest me]? He knows where to find me," Newsom told MSNBC Sunday.
"Come after me, arrest me, let's just get it over with. Tough guy. I don't give a damn, but I care about my community... and I'm sorry to be so clear, but that kind of bloviating is exhausting. So Tom, arrest me."
Homan responded by telling "Fox & Friends" that he had never discussed arresting Newsom during his conversation with an NBC reporter, but did assert that nobody, including the governor, would escape the long arm of justice if they crossed the line and committed a crime.
"What we discussed was for those protesters that crossed the line... you can protest, you get your First Amendment rights... But when you cross that line, you put hands on an ICE officer, or you destroy property, or I'd say that you impede law enforcement, or you're knowingly harboring and concealing an illegal alien... that's a crime, and the Trump administration is not going to tolerate it," he said.
Homan was very critical of the left-leaning state's response to riots against the Trump administration's immigration raids that rocked Los Angeles over the weekend. He called out Newsom for his delayed response as the city burned and officers were assaulted before he made any declaration of an unlawful assembly.
Violent protests erupted as ICE officials carried out plans to remove individuals illegally residing in the left-wing city, which had declared itself a "sanctuary" for illegal immigrants in November before Trump was sworn back into the Oval Office [Newsweek].
Homan explained that ICE was serving criminal warrants at a business being investigated for money laundering, consumer fraud, and "serious violations" of sending money to criminal cartels in Latin American countries [NY Times]. The immigration raids led to protests across Los Angeles, with some protesters throwing projectiles at law enforcement and torching American flags and cars [Reuters].
In response to the chaos, President Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, causing dismay among Democratic officials. Homan urged Newsom to focus on the real issues at hand and do what's best for his community rather than engaging in nonsensical verbal sparring.
Additional Insight- The legality of arresting California Governor Gavin Newsom for impeding ICE operations in Los Angeles depends on whether he has committed a crime. However, arresting him based on the governor's statements alone would likely be seen as politically motivated rather than legally justified. [Source: Enrichment Data]- The conflict between federal and state authority is a significant issue in this case, with the deployment of the National Guard by the federal government without Governor Newsom's consent being seen as an overreach of federal power and a violation of state sovereignty. [Source: Enrichment Data]- ICE's raids led to protests across Los Angeles, with some protesters resorting to violence, throwing projectiles at law enforcement, and torching American flags and cars. [Source: Reuters]
The ongoing debate between Tom Homan and Gavin Newsom highlights the intersection of politics, economy, and general-news, as it revolves around the deployment of the National Guard and the impediment of ICE operations. In the context of this dispute, the legality of arresting Newsom for impeding ICE operations remains uncertain, potentially involving questions of crime-and-justice and the balance of federal and state authority.
