Trump DOJ is again NOT defending a federal law...for female genital mutilation in a case in Michigan

[riversedge]

This is an important story getting little attention: Trump DOJ is again NOT defending a federal law, this time the first federal criminal prosecution for female genital mutilation in a case in Michigan.

Link to tweet

Congress Clashes With Justice Department Over Its Decisions Not To Defend Laws

June 7, 20194:12 PM ET


The Justice Department under Attorney General William Barr has declined to defend in court the Affordable Care Act or a congressional ban on female genital mutilation.
Patrick Semansky/AP

Lawyers for the House of Representatives are pushing back on the Justice Department's decision to walk away from a statute barring female genital mutilation — and an unusual argument that lawmakers shouldn't intervene to defend the interests of Congress in the case.

The fight is unfolding over the first federal criminal prosecution for female genital mutilation.

Last year, a judge in Michigan threw out charges against several women who had their daughters circumcised. The Justice Department notified Congress it would not appeal that decision because of constitutional considerations.

Solicitor General Noel Francisco wrote to Congress in April to say female genital mutilation should be "universally condemned" but that DOJ had "reluctantly determined" it lacked a "reasonable defense" of the law following Supreme Court rulings in other cases.


...........

[PatrickforO]

1. Why on earth would they not defend that particular federal law?

They don't have the right to not defend it, first of all, and secondly, what does it say about the quality of their morality that they choose not to defend a law that protects women against gross violations.

I mean, why it is OK to force a woman to bear the child of her rapist, or a dead child, or die in childbirth because some old white guy doesn't think she should have the right to get an abortion,

but...

it IS ok to maim her genitalia so she cannot experience pleasure in the sexual act?

[pangaia]

2. Do you really not know? Come on. We ALL know why...

And laws no longer apply to republicans....

[PatrickforO]

12. Of course I know.

That was a rhetorical question. Definitely a case of theocratic law gone awry. The forces of Christian hatred are definitely behind this one.

[pangaia]

13. I must have been sleeping..... jet lag.. or some other excuse...

[PatrickforO]

15. I suspect it isn't jet lag. I think, like me, you are experiencing anger

at the hate-filled stupidity of these people and their policies.

No harm, no foul. Not at all.

[pangaia]

16. Part if it is jet lag.. 13 hours difference between NY and Kyoto.

Plus withdrawal from lack of great food !!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

3. With this admin, everything to do with human rights is off the table.

There's new examples almost every day. Our southern border and several conflict zones are awash with examples.

Except for the criminal rights of plutocrats, oligarchs, technocrats, autocrats, aristocrats, dictators and a bunch of other assorted billionaires AND the dogmatic rights of a few million gun humpers, wannabe nazis and religious freaks which are protected.

Whew!

KY........

[MasonDreams]

4. My stomach is churning. This is horrible.

I don't want to know, but i really don't know. Why? racism, misogyny, and religious bigotry. But wouldn't they want to jail Muslims And publish this shit to further condemn Islam?
I can't think about this anymore, it's worse than China's killing girl infants.
This is Michigan and my USA gov't fuck you assholes protect those little girls.

[OregonBlue]

9. Why isn't this on the front page of the Washington Post?

[BadgerMom]

5. For Republicans, women are targets.

I don’t like the anger the recent news cycle fuels. I don’t like feeling hatred.

I worry for young women-those I know and those I don’t.

Never in my almost-66 years have I seen such rampant misogyny.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Barr knows this is wrong, but is kissing Trump's ass. Again...

From the NPR story linked on the tweet:

Attorney General William Barr and lawyers inside the White House opposed the decision to walk away from the defense of the health care law, but they were overruled by President Trump.

What do we have when the AG has sold his honor, judgment, and very soul to the Mad King?

[smirkymonkey]

7. This makes me so angry! Could their misogyny be any more obvious?

When it comes to human rights, particularly female human rights, not only do they not care, they are actively fighting against them. I really hate these motherfuckers!

[gratuitous]

8. But if you leave water jugs out for refugees, you face 20 years in the slammer

Nice set of priorities you have there, Trump administration.

[MasonDreams]

10. Barr has a female wife, a daughter named Mary and a Priest.

They need to KNOW he has become a monster.

[Ilsa]

11. This is their excuse:

Congress outlawed it, but the Justice Department's Office of Legislative Affairs earlier this year asked Congress to amend that existing law to make clear that it applies to travel between states and when payments or offers are made in connection with the circumcision.

I guess this is only about interstate commerce to these assholes.

If someone wants to live in the US, I don't think they should be allowed to ruin their daughters' lives with this dangerous and unnecessary misogynistic tradition.

[spanone]

14. Most disgusting administration in our nation's history.