Stephen Miller freezes after saying “plenary authority”
On Monday afternoon, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller went on CNN’s News Central to discuss the President’s deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities.
Miller said: “Under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, the President has plenary authority, has—” before making an abrupt stop. Miller blinked several times, with anchor Boris Sanchez calling out his name, though he still did not respond.
Upon return to air, Sanchez asked Miller about “the President's legal authority as you see it under Title 10,” which refers to the part of the U.S. Code outlining laws that govern the Armed Forces, and “whether the Administration still plans to abide by that judge's order, restricting any National Guard troops from being sent to Oregon.”
“Well, the Administration will abide by the ruling insofar as it affects the covered parties,” Miller said. “But there are also many other options the President has to deploy federal resources and assets under the U.S. military to Portland. But I was making the point that under federal law, Section— Title 10 of the U.S. Code, the President has the authority anytime he believes federal resources are insufficient to federalize the National Guard to carry out a mission necessary for public safety.”
Caption from article by Chad de Guzman, Time Magazine.
