Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Friday, April 26, 2024 74° Today's Paper


Top News

Trump offers to ‘destroy’ Texas state senator to help sheriff

1/1
Swipe or click to see more

ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Donald Trump spoke during a meeting with county sheriffs in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON >> There’s a Texas state senator with a new target on his back, courtesy of President Donald Trump and the Rockwall County sheriff.

At a meeting today with sheriffs from around the country, Sheriff Harold Eavenson complained about a state senator who wanted to make it harder for law enforcement to get control of assets forfeited by drug traffickers.

“I want to hear his name. We’ll destroy his career,” Trump offered.

The sheriff shrugged and declined to offer a name during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, where Trump met with about a dozen sheriffs. Reached later by cellphone, Eavenson again declined to identify the lawmaker. He said he didn’t take the president’s offer to destroy the senator literally.

“He was just being emphatic that he did not agree with that senator’s position,” Eavenson said, adding of the senator in question, “I’m not into assassinating his character.”

Eavenson will become president of the National Sheriff’s Association in June. He has been active in the Sheriff’s Association of Texas.

The object of ire big enough to mention to the president wasn’t immediately clear. Eavenson referred to “him” several times and confirmed that it’s a male senator. Speculation quickly swirled in Austin.

During the meeting, Trump went around the room asking the sheriffs to air top concerns.

“There’s a state senator in Texas that was talking about legislation to require conviction before we could receive that forfeiture money,” Eavenson told the president.

“Do you believe that?” Trump said.

“And I told him that the cartel would build a monument to him in Mexico if he could get that legislation passed,” Eavenson said.

“Who is that state senator? I want to hear his name. We’ll destroy his career,” Trump said, prompting laughter.

Eavenson said he appreciated Trump’s sentiment.

“He was making a point about how much he opposed that kind of philosophy,” the sheriff said. “I appreciated what the president said. I can assure you that he is on our side.”

The conversation focused on border security and immigration, mental health and the jail population, and asset forfeiture.

The latter topic was the one discussed by Eavenson, a sheriff for 16 years. He’s concerned about state legislation that would make it harder to seize assets involved in the drug trade, and said the state senator pushing in that direction is misinformed.

“Some people sold him a bill of goods about the fact that just regular citizens are getting stopped, getting their money seized. I’m not saying that has never happened, but I promise you it is in the minuscule minority,” the sheriff said, adding that there are state and federal procedures in place to protect the innocent. “It doesn’t take long to connect the dots when you make a score and then maybe a dog gets on their car, and that money’s been around dope.”

The president also vowed during the meeting to stop terrorism and to push hard in courts to reinstate executive orders blocking refugees and halting entry from seven Muslim countries.

“They want to take a lot of our powers away. Some people with the wrong intentions,” he said, reiterating his vow to secure the border to keep out drugs and immigrants. “We’re committed to securing our borders. … We’re going to be building a wall.”

Before the president arrived, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway chatted with Eavenson and Sheriff Carolyn Welsh of Chester County, Pa. — the only female sheriff on hand and treasurer of the National Sheriffs’ Association.

Conway — a regular on cable news programs throughout the campaign, the transition and the new administration — chatted with Sheriff Richard Stanek of Hennepin County, Minn. The sheriff seemed unclear who she was.

“What’s your first name?” he asked. “Kellyanne,” she replied.

Once he arrived, Trump used the platform — and the assembled media — to continue his media-bashing crusade, announcing that in his view, sheriffs don’t get the news coverage they deserve.

“The sheriffs are good people,” he said.

As he went around the room seeking input from the sheriffs, Trump asserted that the country’s murder rate is the highest it’s been in 45 to 47 years — a debunked claim based on faulty math. Nationally, the annual murder rate jumped from 2014 to 2015 by the highest percentage since 1971, but the number of murders annually peaked in the early 1990s, and the per capita murder rate peaked in 1980.

Trump singled out Chicago, saying that the city is worse than some war-torn parts of the Middle East.

As for immigration, Trump said, “you’re not allowed to use the phrase ‘silent majority’ anymore,” but if that majority were to express its demands for a new immigration policy, “you would see a real protest.”

61 responses to “Trump offers to ‘destroy’ Texas state senator to help sheriff”

  1. deepdiver311 says:

    trump will destroy all dimm leftists and the dimmo party and make america safe again!
    aloha!

    • jusris says:

      Safe from who???

    • HawaiiCheeseBall says:

      Darn right, Trump will make sure that the Bowling Green massacre never happens again.

    • MillionMonkeys says:

      Yeah, he’ll destroy anyone who disagrees with him. Spoken like a true leader.

      • lwandcah says:

        There is a difference between gaining respect from others, and bullying. The Don is no more than a school yard bully, and has surrounded himself with more privileged, silver spoon bullies.

      • Buckykat says:

        Democrats have “destroyed” careers of many good politicians. They don’t announce it first but they do. That said I think asset forfeiture is unconstitutional and is generally used only to line the pockets of the people demanding it.

    • klastri says:

      Trump is a violent psychotic.

      Every person who voted for him should be ashamed of what they’ve done.

      • dragoninwater says:

        We’re ashamed to have you live in Hawaii and try to voice your anti-patriotic and communist propoganda. Move to Mexico since Trump is not your president.

      • Marauders_1959 says:

        Instead of: “Every person who voted for him should be ashamed of what they’ve done.”

        I’ve been saying for EIGHT, Very Long Years:
        “Every person who voted for NO-Bama should be ashamed of what they’ve done.”

        They voted for No-Bama to “prove” they’re not racists.
        They voted for No-Bama TWICE and proved they’re “pupule” !

        • jusris says:

          So you and klastri have been saying the same thing, just different President…You’ve been doing unpatriotic for 8 years and klastri 3 weeks…Whise MORE unpatriotic??? Maybe you and others DO see share similarities with other anti-Trumpers…#MAGA

    • BluesBreaker says:

      Putin’s puppet will make America safe from foreigners!

    • Kealaula says:

      What does the word ‘aloha’ mean to you?

      Here is the definition in the Hawaiian Dictionary :

      aloha
      nvt., nvs. Aloha, love, affection, compassion, mercy, sympathy, pity, kindness, sentiment, grace, charity; greeting, salutation, regards; sweetheart, lover, loved one; beloved, loving, kind, compassionate, charitable, lovable; to love, be fond of; to show kindness, mercy, pity, charity, affection; to venerate; to remember with affection; to greet, hail. Greetings! Hello! Good-by! Farewell! Alas! The common greetings follow: Aloha ʻoe, may you be loved or greeted, greetings (to one person). Aloha kāua, may there be friendship or love between us, greetings (to one person); dear Sir. Aloha kākou, same as above, but to more than one person. Ke aloha nō! Aloha! Greetings! (The nō may be prolonged for emphasis.) (Gram. 4.6) The following greetings were introduced after European times; Aloha ahiahi, good evening. Aloha kakahiaka, good morning. Cf. aloha ʻāina, hanaaloha. Aloha aliʻi, royalist, royal love. Aloha ʻino! What a pity! Alas! [Expression of regret, either great or small.] Aloha akua, love of god; divine love, pity, charity. Mea aloha, loved one, beloved. Aloha makua, considerate and thoughtful of parents and elders, filial. Aloha ʻia, beloved, pitied. Aloha pumehana, warm aloha, affection. Me ke aloha o Ka-wena, with the love (or greeting) of Ka-wena. ʻO wau iho nō me ke aloha, I remain, with very best regards. Aloha ʻoe, ē Maria, ua piha ʻoe i ka maikaʻi, hail, Mary, full of grace. Ē Maria hemolele, e aloha mai ʻoe iā mākou, Holy Mary, have mercy on us. Aloha aʻe ana mākou i ke ehu wāwae o ka lani (chant for Ka-lā-kaua), we remember fondly the footprints of the king. E aloha aku au i ka mea aʻu e manaʻo ai e aloha aku (Puk. 33.19), I show mercy tothose I want to show mercy to. Aloha nō ia mau lā o nā makahiki he kanalima i kūnewa akula! Affectionate [memories] of these days of fifty years past! hō.aloha Rare var. of hoʻālohaloha. Cf. hoaloha. (PPN ʻalofa.)

  2. NanakuliBoss says:

    First he will destroy the dimwit that voted for him.

  3. NanakuliBoss says:

    The video above was from WTXF Philadelphia. What The Xtra F.

  4. skinut says:

    Murder rate: more trump alternative facts. What a buffoon!

  5. GoldenDisk says:

    I’m not a Trump supporter, but am amazed how often news stories don’t match the evidence about Trump’s actions.

    The headline for this article says, “Trump offers to ‘destroy’ Texas state senator to help sheriff.” The article says, ““I want to hear his name. We’ll destroy his career,” Trump offered.”

    But the video shows that is not what President Trump said. Trump said, “Who’s the State Senator? You want to give his name? We’ll destroy his career?”
    The last sentence is said in a rising tone at the end, not with anger. The sheriffs in the room laugh at the remark. In the video, the Sheriff said beforehand, “And, I told him (the senator), the (drugs) Cartel would build a monument in Mexico if he could get that legislation enacted.” In that context, Trump may have meant that revealing the Senator’s name would have destroyed the Senator’s career. There is no conclusive evidence that Trump offered to destroy the Senator’s career.

    The article’s shaky premise could turn into another Trump myth, propagating over news media and social media as fact.

    • hawaiikone says:

      A similar definition of “alternate facts” might include the increasingly ridiculous efforts of the “press” to morph Trump’s daily actions into yet another outrage moment.
      He has far more than enough rope to hang himself without inventing any more.

    • Bothrops says:

      This is the big league. “Rising tone”? Really? “No conclusive evidence” Really? What would you accept as conclusive evidence? “May have meant” Really? This is the President of the United States and words matter.

      • hawaiikone says:

        Bill Clinton; “Everybody knows I have tougher ethics rules than any other previous president.”
        Ron Reagan; “trees cause more pollution than automobiles do.”
        H.W. ; “I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don’t always agree with them.”
        Never made it all the way, but classic nonetheless, Al Gore; “A zebra cannot change it’s spots.”
        Offered purely for entertainment purposes..

      • hawaiikone says:

        One more from Slick; “This is still the greatest country in the world, if we just steel our wills and lose our minds.”

      • GoldenDisk says:

        Based on the video, Trump did not say what the article claims he said. The article made a conclusion based on a false premise it gave the readers.
        Also, when I listened to the conversation, it didn’t sound like Trump made an offer to destroy the Senator’s career. I’m sure other unbiased people would also have the same impression.

    • allie says:

      Because millions of America do not trust Trump and will not follow or support him in any way . He lost the popular vote, has the lowest poll ratings of any president, “won” in a rigged election by a foreign power, and is dishonest about what he really wants to do. He is toxic for America in a very difficult time in our history.

    • MillionMonkeys says:

      @GoldenDisk

      I understand what you’re saying. Yes, they could have changed a few words and been a LITTLE more accurate. But it’s not that far off from what he said–in a seemingly joking manner. Maybe they were trying to keep the headline from getting too long. Maybe they wanted a little teaser to draw more eyes to the article (where they do clarify everything). Even if he’s joking this time, at least half the people in this country are very worried about his disregard of civil rights. Again, even though you and I recognize that he was joking, a lot of people probably interpret it as an extension of his dictatoral tendencies.

      Yes, he seems to be joking. But this is a guy who regularly praises dictators like Putin, Castro, and Kim Jung Un. And it says in the article that Trump thinks it’s okay to take a suspected criminal’s assets BEFORE conviction. Is that something free citizens should be aware of? Isn’t it good if the headline draws eyes to that real news?

      • TigerEye says:

        “…not that far off from what he said…” means NOT in fact what he actually said. You don’t put quotation marks around anything but a direct quote in journalism – at least when relating something that someone supposedly said. Doing so in order to put words in a subject’s mouth is right down there with “alternative facts.”

        Feelings of no love lost aside, if this is what happened (I’m not saying for sure that it is), then the whole story needs to be given a decent burial and its writer a doorknob spanking.

        • MillionMonkeys says:

          They do have quotation marks around just the word “destroy,” which Trump did say. A better headline might be: “Trump offers to ‘destroy’ career of state senator…” or something like that.

          Whoever wrote the current headline was certainly not 100% accurate. But he/she is no more inaccurate than Donald himself. I mean, look at or listen to Trump’s quote; he is a guy who talks loosely all the time—unless you insist that he literally intends to destroy the senator’s career.

          I think a lot of people agree this is not a big story—most don’t take his comment seriously (I think)—and will fade rather quickly.

        • TigerEye says:

          I was responding more to: “Who is that state senator? I want to hear his name. We’ll destroy his career,” Which is the full quote in the body of the article. This, as opposed to: “Who’s the State Senator? You want to give his name? We’ll destroy his career?” as transcribed by GoldenDisk.

          If GoldenDisk’s quote is accurate, the misplaced words and/or punctuation do make a difference–if a subtle one–and that is never a good thing especially if the difference supports a particular bias. Somehow, these sloppy bits never support opposing viewpoints….

          As suggested by Hawaiikone earlier, the president doesn’t need any help in the self-expression malfunction department.

    • toau says:

      Trump showed intend, let the judges rule on this.

  6. Bothrops says:

    the seizure of property without conviction is actually a serious problem. Some police departments fund themselves via seizures. Waiting until conviction would actually be due process but what does trump care about the Constitution.

  7. bleedgreen says:

    President Trump is treading on the edge of being a dictator.

  8. AdmrVT says:

    Guilty until proven innocent, right? Notice the ???

    Then if and when acquitted, return what was forfeited, plus penalty and interest. That’s fair. But what do we award for the stigma of “conviction” before trial?

  9. saywhatyouthink says:

    Why is requiring a conviction before confiscating someone’s personal property unreasonable? Frankly, I amazed that a conviction is not required before government forfeiture action is taken. It sounds unconstitutional and very un-american.
    Trump’s people better reign him in before his mouth gets him in a jam they won’t be able to extricate him from. Forget CNN or the democrats, Trump may be his own worst enemy.

    • keaukaha says:

      How true if only he would keep his stoopid mouth shut. What is more stoopid is trying to defend his idio-ic statements and outright lies.

      • MillionMonkeys says:

        Thanks to Donald, we all know that you can’t spell stoopid the right way or the moderator bot will put your post on hold. Why does “stoopid” come up so often???

  10. Qbcoach15 says:

    Every day Trump proves his unfitness. “We’ll destroy his career.” Seriously? There are no words.

  11. MillionMonkeys says:

    I couldn’t help keeping an eye on Kellyanne Conway sitting in the background. She grimaces as Trump says “We’ll destroy his career.” She’s trying to make it look like a polite laugh, but you know she’s thinking, “Here we go again…”

  12. davcon says:

    The Texas Senator is doing just fine in ruining his own career just like what the Democratic party is doing. The hatred and bitterness towards President Trump is getting the best of them all and strengthening President Trump’s support base.

    • klastri says:

      Trump’s approval ratings are dropping every day. He’s a psychotic.

      • dragoninwater says:

        Good, then you and all the rest of the illegals whom hate Trump to can pack your bags and finally move to a country where you actually love your president, like Mexico! I’ll even help you pack your bags and pay to fly you out to never return to the US. Look at the bright side Klastri, in Mexico you won’t have to listen to Trump and you can protest all you want for womens pro-abortion rights since abortion is illegal there. We need you to help Mexico out so they stop sending their unwanted here.

  13. Amosilatus says:

    A president should not even jest about such matters. Of course, we unfortunately have a president who hasn’t an ounce of good sense.

  14. SkipShrauder says:

    Der fuehrer has spoken…..again!!!!

  15. stanislous says:

    That’s the problem with left wing liberals… no sense of humor. LOL. It was a joke…just like the misleading headline to this story. LOL LOL LOL

  16. ready2go says:

    Brady is also a liar and a cheat.

  17. Marauders_1959 says:

    The subject line is very misleading.

    Instead of sensationalism “Trump offers to ‘destroy’ Texas state senator to help sheriff”

    It would have been more accurate to say:

    “Trump offers to ‘destroy’ Texas state senator’s career”.

    Except in the Editorial Section, the press should REPORT the news, not offer its biased opinion.

  18. Kealaula says:

    Vicious creep with no respect for the law.

    • NP5491 says:

      Good morning, to all of you posters> Very interesting discussions and of course the colorful points of view from all of you. Here’s my take on all of this BS…….Ready or not here I come……First of all, the issue regarding what he said to the Sheriff from Texas…no big deal sounds more like a joke to me, I don’t take that kind of stuff too serious otherwise I might be the one to go psycho…Laugh it off. Secondly, about property forfeiture, yes it cannot be taken until the gavel goes down and the case is adjudicated. Thirdly, POTUS has a unique way of throwing things out and getting everyone worked up. I think he does this knowingly to see what the country and people think. He especially is watching what the MSM is going to do with it. It is all a big TRAP and don’t get sucked up into it. Have a nice day you all!!!!

Leave a Reply