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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has rejected President Trump’s latest decision to send federal agents to help clean up her city and stop unrest and violent demonstrations.
During an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday morning with host Jake Tapper, Lightfoot admitted to having accepted some aid from the White House but said the use of federal agents was too far.
As the Daily Wire reports, she then accused Trump of sending just “anyone” to “play police” in her city.
“We can’t just allow anyone to come into Chicago, play police in our streets, in our neighborhoods when they don’t know the first thing about our city,” she said.
Tapper then pressed Lightfoot working with the Trump administration, noting: “Not everyone in Chicago is happy about that.”
Lightfoot reasserted herself, explaining the Trump administration crossed a line by sending federal agents like they previously did in Portland.
“This is not about working with the Trump administration,” she said per the Daily Wire. “I have drawn a very hard line. We will not allow federal troops in our city. We will not tolerate unnamed agents taking people off the street, violating their rights, and holding them in custody. That’s not happening here in Chicago.”
She added: “So, I have drawn a very, very bright line. I have made that very clear to every federal authority that I have spoken with. And they understand that, if they cross that line, we will not hesitate to use every tool at our disposal to stop troops and unwanted agents in our city.”
According to the Daily Wire, Lightfoot argued the problem her city is facing is a gun problem. Her solution: more gun control.
“The fact of the matter is, our gun problem is related to the fact that we have too many illegal guns on our street, 60 percent of which, 60 percent of which come from states outside of Illinois,” she explained. “We are being inundated with guns from states that have virtually no gun control, no background checks, no ban on assault weapons. That is hurting cities like Chicago. That is the thing that, if the president really wanted to help, that and the other things I identified in my letter, he could do today, tomorrow. But he’s not really interested in helping in that way.”
Tapper circled back to his initial question, asking whether or not she would allow federal agents to help police her city: “Would you support an increased federal presence in Chicago, as long as they coordinated with local officials, local law enforcement and the U.S. attorney?”
Lightfoot answered: “Well, I have said it before and I will say it again, no troops, no agents that are coming in outside of our knowledge, notification, and control that are violating people’s constitutional rights. That’s the — that’s the framework. We can’t just allow anyone to come into Chicago, play police in our streets, in our neighborhoods, when they don’t know the first thing about our city. That’s a recipe for disaster.”
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot reacts to increased federal presence in her city: “We can’t just allow anyone to come into Chicago, play police in our streets, in our neighborhoods when they don’t know the first thing about our city. That’s a recipe for disaster.” #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/eZO3Zng6vV
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) July 26, 2020
