Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) hit back at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday for botching the definition of habeas corpus — the right to due process used to check the government’s power to detain people.
“Well, habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country and suspend their right to —,” declared Noem during her testimony at a Senate committee hearing.
The statement from Noem — which would’ve been wrong on a high school civics exam — saw her doubling down on Trump administration claims that the president can suspend the right, which is enshrined in the first article of the Constitution.
Officials like senior Trump aide Stephen Miller have entertained suspending habeas corpus for detained migrants to clear the way of potential roadblocks to the president’s deportation efforts.
On Tuesday, a stunned Hassan swiftly checked Noem over her claim, “Excuse me, that’s incorrect.”
