Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., told Newsmax TV on Wednesday that he "can understand" Defense Secretary Mark Esper's "reluctance" to order American troops to be deployed to American streets for the purpose of dispersing protestors, but said it should remain an option.
"I can understand his reluctance," King said in an interview with "Newsmax Now" Wednesday afternoon, "and it may not be necessary to do it now, but I think it should not be taken off the table."
He added, "The situation was so bad the last few nights, if that had continued or if it does continue or increase, I think the president would be justified. But again, it's always risky to put [the] United States Army or any element of the armed forces actually on the streets. You know, that is primarily a police role or for the state National Guard, but again, I would not rule it out."
King also addressed former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who testified before Congress on Wednesday. He questioned why Rosenstein "didn't know" more about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant for Carter Page, a former Trump campaign aide, when he signed it.
He added, "to me, this is one of the worst scandals in American history, the fact that the intelligence and law enforcement communities were, in effect, weaponized against a candidate for president of the United States, and then they continued after he was inaugurated."
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Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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