Dem Rep: We’re in an atmosphere of ‘totalitarian’ government

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) compared President Trump’s treatment of law enforcement to that of a “totalitarian” foreign government, accusing the president of using his power to go after his political opponents.

“We’re in an atmosphere of a foreign government that’s totalitarian where the president is saying ‘I can go after my political enemies’ and try to say we want our institution to put someone in jail,” Meeks said on MSNBC.

Meeks’ remarks came two days after a bombshell New York Times report that Trump had directed a lawyer to lobby Attorney General Jeff Sessions not to recuse himself from the criminal investigation into Russian election meddling.

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When Sessions did recuse himself from the probe, according to the report, Trump was furious, because he felt that Sessions had not protected him like past attorneys general had protected the president.

He also said in an interview with the Times last month that he had the “absolute right” to do whatever he wants with the Justice Department. 

The president has urged the FBI and the Justice Department to investigate his former Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.