Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf tripled down this week after facing harsh criticism for tipping off criminal aliens about coming raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
During the daily briefing Thursday, White House Press Secretary slammed the major for putting the lives of law enforcement officers at further risk by issuing the warning.
"I think it's outrageous that a mayor would circumvent federal authorities, and certainly put them in danger by making a move such as that. And that's currently under review by the Department of Justice, and I don't have anything else to add," Sanders said.
As mentioned, DOJ is looking at potential charges for Schaaf.
There’s an obstruction of justice issue. A 2014 report by the Congressional Research Service says, “an individual who obstructs a federal investigation by tipping off the targets of the investigation is likely to incur liability” as a principal or an accessory. The relevant statute for this is 18 U.S.C. 3, which says:
Whoever, knowing that an offense against the United States has been committed, receives, relieves, comforts or assists the offender in order to hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial or punishment, is an accessory after the fact.
Schaaf maintains she did nothing wrong and says she had a duty to warn "her community."
I do not regret sharing this information. It is Oakland’s legal right to be a sanctuary city and we have not broken any laws. We believe our community is safer when families stay together. pic.twitter.com/ng13yq431L
— Libby Schaaf (@LibbySchaaf) February 28, 2018
Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan also blasted the mayor for her actions earlier this week.