LEMON DROP | The Constitution Demands Due Process for ALL!
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Who is Senator Chris Van Hollen and why is he a rising Democratic figure?
Let's discuss, shall we, a rising star in the Democratic Party. A person who might well find themselves, seriously, on the 2028 ticket, if they continue to play their cards right. I'm not talking about AOC, not Cory Booker, not even about Jasmine Crockett, who is a superstar now. I'm not talking about Eric Swalwell or Wes Moore or even Chris Murphy. I like and respect all of them, truly I do, and some of them I actually know personally, but... The person I want to talk about tonight was somewhat of, I don't know, he's pretty quiet. Two weeks ago, you would know he was anything but a household name. His recent actions, however, they have really transformed him to one of the brightest Democratic superstars on the political scene.
I am talking about Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen or Christopher Van Hollen. Now, he's been in the Senate since 2017. And in that time, he has been a model legislator, but not a firebrand. Just keeps his head down, does good work. And in today's America, that means that you'll never become a media darling, right? That is, unless you do something truly extraordinary. So by now, I'm sure you have heard about Senator Van Hollen's trip to El Salvador. That's where he fought tooth and nail to meet with Kilmer Abrego Garcia. Why did he fight so hard? Well, for starters, Abrego Garcia is his constituent, married to an American citizen named
What prompted Van Hollen's controversial trip to El Salvador to find Kilmar Abrego Garcia?
living in Maryland. But more than that, it was the right thing to do. The moral thing to do. Donald Trump's own DOJ has admitted that Albrego Garcia was deported to an El Salvadorian gulag by mistake. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously, nine to zero, that the government must, quote unquote, facilitate his repatriation. And yet he is still sitting in an El Salvadorian prison. It is egregious. It's disgusting. And Van Hollen, well, he had enough. He flew down. He demanded to meet with Obrego Garcia. He demanded proof of life. He got it. And thank God he did. Not only can Obrego Garcia's wife now sleep ever so slightly easier, knowing her husband is still alive, but now it is much harder for some corrupt official or someone in El Salvador to do away with the man.
My opinion, Van Hollen performed a valiant, courageous act. But not everyone agrees with me. In fact, there are some, even on the Democratic side of the aisle, who have been rather critical of Van Hollen. California Governor Gavin Newsom, in particular, has come out to state on the record that he thinks it's a mistake to focus so much attention on this distraction. Now, I have plenty of thoughts about Gavin Newsom using those words when a man's life hangs in the balance, but Look, I'll let you hear from Senator Van Hollen's response. What his response is first. Here it is.
I just want to ask you one last question, just frankly about some raw politics of this. And I'm asking you this because we've heard some of your fellow Democrats, like Gavin Newsom, say that it's a mistake to have this fight when the economy really is the issue that Democrats should be focused on. He said it's the distraction of the day, the art of distraction. And how is it so that we are looking like we're defending someone who's out of sight, out of mind in El Salvador? Do you see an argument that the focus on this, regardless of due process, which is totally understandable, but just on the politics might not be winning for you?
I don't think it's ever wrong to fight for the constitutional rights of one person, because if we give up on one person's rights, we threaten everybody's rights. And I think a lot of voters, both Republican and Democrat, are tired of elected officials and politicians who just put their finger to the wind. And I would say that anyone who's not prepared to stand up and fight for the Constitution doesn't deserve to lead.
Democrats are tired of politicians who just put their finger to the wind. Now that is a mic drop. Yes, it is. But okay, let's take a step back here. Why is Gavin Newsom calling this a distraction? If I had to guess, some of the recent reporting about Abrego Garcia has him nervous.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Who is Senator Chris Van Hollen and why is he a rising Democratic figure?
0:00–1:20
2
What prompted Van Hollen's controversial trip to El Salvador to find Kilmar Abrego Garcia?
1:20–6:45
3
What evidence and legal findings show Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported?
6:45–7:54
4
How did Van Hollen demand proof of life and what happened during his visit?
7:54–9:26
5
Why are some Democrats like Gavin Newsom calling the focus on this a 'distraction'?
9:26–9:54
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from The Don Lemon Show
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