Congressman Cohen Disappointed by Supreme Court Decision on Trump Muslim Ban

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, released the following statement after yet another 5-4 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, this one upholding President Trump's Muslim travel ban:

"Whether this President is tearing children from their parents at the Mexican border or banning Muslims from traveling to our country out of bigotry and ignorance, he is making the United States a pariah among nations and ruining our reputation abroad. Today's high court ruling will enable Trump's bigoted attempts to ban people based on the sectarian character of their nation of origin, showing an open distain for America's historic role in welcoming ‘teeming masses yearning to breathe free.' As a country, we are better than this."

The congressman noted that Justice Neil Gorsuch, whose appointment was made by Trump after the Senate refused to consider President Obama's nomination of Appeals Court Judge Merrick Garland after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, was the deciding vote in both high-profile 5-4 rulings today.