House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer rejected President Trump’s assertion that Democrats condone acts of violence and criminality committed by rioters in Portland and other cities across the country.
“[He] posits that criminal behavior violence is happening with respect to the demonstrations. The assertion that any of us sanction the use of violence or the use criminal behavior in these demonstrations is absolutely untrue,” said Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat.
Trump tweeted videos in the past showing Democratic cities in crises, rioters creating chaos, destruction on businesses, and brutal assaults on bystanders.
“Frankly, we have seen down through history that fascist leaders and those would-be dictators try to scare the populace into thinking that they are under some mob assault,” Hoyer said. “And, therefore, they need to move towards what one could say is a step toward a police state.”
However, Hoyer would not say, when asked by the Washington Examiner, why Democratic leaders refused to condemn the violence specifically in the last two months that has resulted from demonstrations.
Trump sent federal officers to Portland and other areas throughout the country in the last several weeks to quell violence in cities facing destructive mobs on federal property. Democrats criticized the use of sending federal officers to these cities, whose mayors did not request their presence.
Hoyer told reporters Tuesday that Democrats are seeking legislation to rein in federal officers.
“We need to make sure that America is not subject to the personal law enforcement agency or federal officers, in effect, being the president’s personal army, if you will,” Hoyer said.
