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President Trump swiped his Democratic rivals over the weekend when he joked that he may be impeached over the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
During a presser on Sunday morning, Trump admitted that he did not tell House Democrats about the special forces raid that resulted in al-Baghdadi blowing a suicide vest in a “dead-end tunnel.” It is atypical for a president not to notify congressional leaders. Democrats, like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, celebrated the results of the raid but vocalized their frustration with being left out of the process.
“Can you believe that Shifty Adam Schiff, the biggest leaker in D.C., and a corrupt politician, is upset that we didn’t inform him before we raided and killed the #1 terrorist in the WORLD!?” Trump said Monday night on Twitter. “Wouldn’t be surprised if the Do Nothing Democrats Impeach me over that!”
Can you believe that Shifty Adam Schiff, the biggest leaker in D.C., and a corrupt politician, is upset that we didn’t inform him before we raided and killed the #1 terrorist in the WORLD!? Wouldn’t be surprised if the Do Nothing Democrats Impeach me over that! DRAIN THE SWAMP!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 28, 2019
The Washington Examiner reports Pelosi said the president overstepped his obligation to notify Congress of the operation.
“The House must be briefed on this raid, which the Russians but not top Congressional Leadership were notified of in advance, and on the Administration’s overall strategy in the region,” she said in a statement.
Trump defended his decision not to tell congressional leaders as he said he was concerned special operations details could have been leaked, potentially jeopardizing the lives of those individuals or the success of the mission.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel reportedly called Trump’s justification “insulting.”
“His implication that Speaker Pelosi, the elected representative third in line for the presidency, cannot be trusted with sensitive information is tremendously problematic and insulting, and further politicizes foreign policy — especially when Trump has shown himself to be an untrustworthy guardian of our national security and sensitive intelligence information,” the Democrat said.
