District attorneys are banding together to push back against the Trump administration’s overreach. Prosecutors from across the country have formed a new coalition, Fight Against Federal Overreach, or FAFO, which seeks to hold federal agents accountable for unlawful behavior.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner joined “The Weeknight” on Monday to discuss the new effort and explain how they plan to fight Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
“I believe in justice,” Krasner said. “I think most Americans do, and we’re up against an administration that has no qualms about doing things that are deeply immoral, illegal and unconstitutional.”
Moriarty, whose jurisdiction includes Minneapolis, told MS NOW that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are being given a message from the administration that “they can do absolutely anything they want without consequences.”
“That is not true,” the Minnesota prosecutor said. “I have made it clear to our community that we have every right to investigate and to bring charges if we think it’s appropriate.”
Krasner said the district attorneys involved in FAFO “understand the challenge” that comes with publicly opposing Trump, but added that “part of our oath is to uphold the Constitution, the laws and also to seek justice.”
“We cannot do that and acquiesce to what this administration is trying to do,” he stressed.
The Philadelphia prosecutor also shared a blunt message for the administration. “Let me just say this to anybody in the federal government: Be careful what you wish for,” he said. “As the DA in Philly, you try that stuff in Philly, you’re going to find out. We will come after you.”
“We work with federal law enforcement in Philadelphia all the time, as long as they obey the law and the Constitution,” Krasner continued. “But if you want to commit crimes in cities in America, you better get ready to do time in cities in America.”
“We’re going to fight,” he said, “and we’re going to win.”
You can watch the full conversation from “The Weeknight” in the clip at the top of the page.
Allison Detzel is an editor/producer for MS NOW. She was previously a segment producer for “AYMAN” and “The Mehdi Hasan Show.”