Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt denied on Friday the firmly established principle that the U.S. Supreme Court is the final arbiter of the nation’s laws.
The court ruled this week that federal agents may remove razor wire installed at the southern border by Texas officials. Gov. Greg Abbott has ignored the decision and is blocking agents from accessing the area. On Thursday, 25 Republican governors – including Stitt – released a letter backing Abbott’s defiance of the court. They argue that the Constitution allows states to defend themselves in the event of an “invasion,” which they say is happening with migrants coming across the border.
Appearing on Friday’s edition of The Lead , Stitt was asked by Jake Tapper about the letter.
“What Governor Abbott is doing and what you and the other governors who have written this letter are supporting is defying the U.S. Supreme Court,” Tapper stated. “And I wonder if you have any concerns that this opens the door for, let’s say Democratic governors to defy U.S. Supreme Court decisions with which they disagree – let’s say on gun rights because they think it’s in the interest of public safety even if the Supreme Court says what they want to do is unconstitutional.”