Calls are growing for a judicial opponent of President Donald Trump to face consequences after blocking significant parts of his agenda this month.<\/p>\n
A Rhode Island judge overseeing one of the latest legal challenges against Trump was condemned on Tuesday by GOP Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), who said the ruling by District Judge John McConnell is \u201churting the American people\u201d more than the president.<\/p>\n
McConnell\u2019s decision ordered the Trump administration to respect a previous restraining order which temporarily blocked his effort to pause federal grants and loans.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not just hurting the president,\u201d Clyde told Fox News Digital. \u201cYou\u2019re hurting the American people because they\u2019re the ones who elected him, and they\u2019re the ones who want him to do this \u2013 to exercise these specific authorities. And these judges are really denying the American people their rights.\u201d<\/p>\n
The root of Clyde\u2019s ire against McConnell stems from a 2021 video resurfaced by conservative activists. In it, he argues that the judicial branch has the responsibility to \u201cstand and enforce the rule of law, that is, against arbitrary and capricious actions by what could be a tyrant or could be whatnot.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to take a moment and realize that this, you know, middle-class, White, male, privileged person needs to understand the human being that comes before us that may be a woman, may be Black, may be transgender, may be poor, may be rich, may be \u2013 whatever,\u201d McConnell said in the video, according to WPRI.<\/p>\n
Rep. Clyde acknowledged that it\u2019s reasonable for a judge to hold their own opinions and beliefs, but \u201cthey\u2019re not overt and political in mentioning them,\u201d saying \u201cthey don\u2019t want to be seen as potentially having a conflict of interest.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think that\u2019s very, very much the case when it comes to both Judge Engelmayer and Judge McConnell,\u201d the lawmaker said.<\/p>\n
If articles of impeachment are drawn up against McConnell, it would mark the second time this year that House Republicans have sought to oust judges who have stymied the Trump administration\u2019s agenda. Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) has filed for the impeachment of U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of Manhattan after he recently blocked the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency from accessing sensitive records at the U.S. Treasury Department.<\/p>\n