Senator Bennet Questions Trump CIA Nominee Joshua Simmons on Boat Strikes and Presidential Authority

Scrutiny of Anti-Cartel Authorities

• 🎯 Senator Michael Bennet questioned Joshua Simmons, President Trump's nominee for General Counsel of the CIA, regarding new anti-cartel authorities.
• 🚢 The administration has cited these authorities to justify air strikes against boats in the Caribbean, allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

Simmons's Role and Responses

• 🏛️ Bennet inquired if Simmons, as principal deputy legal adviser to Secretary Rubio, played a role in deliberations surrounding these anti-cartel authorities.
• 🤐 Simmons repeatedly stated he was not in a position to discuss specifics of internal deliberations or legal advice provided.
• ❓ He emphasized the importance of confidential advice received by leadership.

Presidential Authority and Use of Force

• ⚖️ Bennet pressed Simmons on the limits of the president's authority to use military force against criminal activity like drug trafficking.
• 🛡️ Simmons referenced a notice citing Article 2 authority for self-defense and defense of others against ongoing attacks by designated entities.
• 🚫 He agreed that the CIA has significant limitations regarding domestic activities.

Terrorist Designations and Use of Force

• 🚨 Bennet asked if designating an organization as a terrorist organization is sufficient basis to justify the use of force.
• 🧐 Simmons clarified that a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation is a separate legal purpose from the lawful use of force, though it includes assessments of threats to national security.
• ➡️ He stated that the FTO designation itself does not legally have a decisive impact on the lawful use of force.

Domestic Political Opponents and Authority

• 🗣️ Bennet directly asked if anti-cartel authorities could be used against domestic political opponents labeled as terrorists by administration officials.
• 🤷 Simmons stated he was not familiar with all anti-cartel authorities and asked for specific statutory provisions.
• 😠 Bennet expressed disbelief that Simmons, as a lawyer, could not answer whether these authorities could be used against domestic political opponents, implying the answer should be no.