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Congressman Nadler Statement Warning President Trump Has “Zero” Legal Authority to Order Military Action Against North Korea Without Congressional Authorization

Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and former Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, released the following statement warning President Donald Trump that his Administration has no legal authority to carry out military action against North Korea without first receiving Congressional authorization.

“President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Ambassador Haley have explicitly, and repeatedly, threatened military attacks by the United States on North Korea if North Korea engages in any nuclear or missile tests," said Congressman Nadler.  "The President should remember that, in the absence of an imminent threat of a North Korean attack on the United States or on U.S. forces, he has zero legal authority to order military action without prior Congressional authorization. Any such order would clearly and unequivocally be illegal and unconstitutional. The Constitution vests this power with Congress, not with the President. Despite his pretensions, President Trump does not have the authority of a dictator to take this country to war without Congressional approval.”

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