Border czar Tom Homan said Monday that California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) have not crossed the line amid tensions between law enforcement and immigration raid protesters, but they, like everyone else, are “not above the law.”
In an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Homan sought to clarify earlier remarks that he said were taken “out of context” by news outlets reporting that he declined to rule out arresting Newsom and Bass amid a clash between the federal and state leaders over the best approach to quelling protests in Los Angeles.
Homan said his previous remarks initially focused on the protesters.
“Here’s what I said: They have a right to protest, they have the First Amendment rights, but they can’t cross that line. They can’t cross that line of impediment. They can’t cross that line of putting their hands on officers. They can’t cross the line of knowing and concealing an illegal alien,” Homan said. “These are all federal crimes, and they’re in statute, and they will be prosecuted.”
Homan said a reporter then asked him a follow-up about Newsom and Bass.
“He asked the question, ‘Does that include Mayor Bass and Gov. Newsom?’ and I was clear they haven’t crossed the line, but they’re not above the law, either,” Homan said, stressing that he noted Newsom and Bass would face prosecution only “if they commit a crime.”
The remarks came in an interview early Monday, when Homan was asked to respond to Newsom’s dare late Sunday to arrest him. Newsom had been responding to reports Homan threatened to do so if he or Bass interfered in immigration enforcement efforts.
“Come after me, arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy, you know? I don’t give a damn. But I care about my community. I care about this community,” Newsom told NBC News on Sunday.
“So, Tom, arrest me. Let’s go,” Newsom added.
But Homan brushed off the remarks Monday.
“I’m not biting on that,” Homan said.
After he clarified his earlier remarks, Homan said, “That’s what was happening. I never threatened to arrest Gov. Newsom.”
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