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Federal Judge in Seattle Temporarily Blocks Trump's Travel Ban Nationwide

Mr Trump is angry at the judge.

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POLITICS | Sat Feb 4, 2017 | 7:28pm EST
Trump lambastes judge who lifts travel ban, vows to fight
By Yeganeh Torbati and Kinda Makieh | WASHINGTON/DAMASCUS

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday denounced a judge who lifted the travel ban he had imposed on citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries, taking an unusual jab at an independent branch of the U.S. government as he vowed to bring back the restrictions.

Trump's personal attack on U.S. District Judge James Robart went too far for some who said he was undermining an institution designed to check the power of the White House and Congress.

As the ban lifted, refugees and thousands of travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who had been stopped in their tracks last weekend by Trump's executive order scrambled to get flights to quickly enter the United States.

The Justice Department on Saturday filed a formal notice that it intends to appeal the ruling made by Robart in Seattle late on Friday. The judge appointed by former Republican President George W. Bush questioned the constitutionality of Trump's order.

"The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!" Trump said on Twitter early on Saturday. Trump has said "extreme vetting" of refugees and immigrants is needed to prevent terrorist attacks.

Eight hours later, Trump showed no signs of backing down when he tweeted "What is our country coming to when a judge can halt a Homeland Security travel ban and anyone, even with bad intentions, can come into U.S.?"

Trump’s tweets criticizing the judge’s decision could undermine the credibility of Justice Department attorneys as they seek to defend the executive order in Washington state and other courts, said Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, adding that presidents are usually circumspect about commenting on government litigation.

"It’s hard for the President to demand that courts respect his inherent authority when he is disrespecting the inherent authority of the judiciary. That certainly tends to poison the well for litigation," Turley said.


SEPARATION OF POWERS

It is unusual for a president to attack a member of the judiciary, which the U.S. Constitution designates as a check to the power of the executive branch and Congress.

Reached by email, Robart declined comment on Trump's tweets.

Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland said Trump went too far by attacking the judge and the integrity of the judicial branch.

RELATED COVERAGE
 
Trump is making non-issues as if they were the only issues for America. As per reports, no person has conducted any act of terrorism from his mentioned countries - so why? What is he trying to improve here?

He has also spoken terribly with my Australian Prime Minster. Shame him for having such ill manners. Would a loud mouth ill mannered person make America grate again. Yea you know the answer.
 

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