Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) attempted to defend President Donald Trump‘s family separation policy on Thursday by implying it is no different than special counsel Robert Mueller pursuing the prosecution of Paul Manafort, thereby separating him from his own adult children.
During a House Judiciary Committee hearing with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Gohmert claimed that border agents ripping young infants and children from their parents is just like the special counsel’s treatment of Trump’s former campaign chairman.
“Mueller did it — and I know he’s a hero to some folks around here — he did it to Manafort, separated him from his two beautiful children. It happens.”
The two daughters of Manafort — who has been convicted on tax fraud and bank fraud charges, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to obstruct justice — are both adults in their mid-30s.
On the other hand, Trump’s family separation policy has resulted in the incarceration of infants and young kids, which has been called child abuse by experts.
Trump has falsely claimed that Democrats are responsible for the law requiring families to be separated at the border, even though no such law exists.
Gohmert was last in the news when Fox Business was force to issue an apology after he appeared on the conservative network and questioned whether George Soros is really Jewish.
During his time in Congress, the Texas Republican has also promoted Islamophobic conspiracy theories, blamed former President Barack Obama for terrorist attacks, signed onto a “birther bill,” compared homosexuality to “adultery,” claimed that a hate crimes bill would lead to the legalization of pedophilia, made sexist remarks about House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi‘s (D-CA) appearance, said that a Matt Damon movie justified anti-gay discrimination, claimed “radical Islamists” would use transgender U.S. troops as a recruiting tool, failed to follow through on a promised donation to mass shooting victims, and defended Roy Moore after he was accused of sexual misconduct with numerous underage girls.