Senator Eric Schmitt on Crime, FBI in St. Louis, and Executive Power

FBI Investment in St. Louis

• FBI agents are being deployed to St. Louis, with the largest per capita investment of permanent FBI agents and intel officers to combat violent crime.
• This initiative aims to move FBI agents out of Washington D.C. and into the field, with St. Louis serving as a potential model.
• The senator highlighted past successes in partnering with federal prosecutors to tackle violent crime, especially when local prosecutors were perceived as not doing their job.

National Guard and Military Deployment

• The deployment of the National Guard has been used to protect ICE agents during deportations and in federal enclaves like Washington D.C.
• Results in D.C. showed a significant decrease in crime, including no murders in a week, 85% fewer carjackings, and nearly 50% fewer robberies.
• The senator discussed the constitutional limits on presidential power to nationalize the National Guard, citing national emergencies or situations where federal agents are under attack.
• Regular military forces have been deployed in support and protection roles, not for direct law enforcement activities, as seen in Los Angeles.

Intel Investment and National Security

• Concerns were raised about the government owning a stake in Intel, with some viewing it as a step toward socialism.
• The senator clarified that the stake is temporary and non-governance, emphasizing the critical need to re-shore chip manufacturing due to reliance on Taiwan.
• This move is driven by national security concerns, as 90% of U.S. chips come from Taiwan.

Executive Declarations and Legal Challenges

• The senator criticized Biden-era emergency declarations (COVID-19, student debt, climate change, transgender rights) as providing cover for executive overreach.
• He contrasted this with Trump-era emergencies, arguing that Trump's actions are based on core Article 2 powers and have been upheld by courts.
• The book "Last Line of Defense" details legal battles against what is described as government censorship and weaponization of the DOJ against citizens.
• The student loan forgiveness case is cited as an example where the administration lacked the authority, and the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the challenge.

Congressional Abdication and Executive Authority

• The senator acknowledged that Congress has abdicated many of its responsibilities to the administrative state.
• He supports the overturning of Chevron deference as a step towards Congress taking a more active role.
• However, he believes President Trump is acting within his Article 2 powers as commander-in-chief, which have been upheld by the courts.