California Gov. Jerry Brown's visit to the nation's capital resulted in a war of words with Fox News reporter Griff Jenkins. Jenkins confronted the Democratic governor at his National Press Club event for his state's sanctuary city policies. The reporter had evidence to suggest the sanctuary status has endangered communities.
Do critics have a point by suggesting sanctuary city laws "favor the rights of criminal illegal aliens over the rights and the safety of those communities," Jenkins asked.
In Brown's defensive answer, he seemed to suggest that Fox News were the first ones to make such a claim.
“Absolutely false,” Brown said. “I’d like to see a scintilla of evidence that would support such an outlandish Fox proposition.”
Jenkins, however, was provided with a specific case that supports his "Fox proposition."
A 6-year-old girl was killed by a drunk driver in Fullerton in February who was discovered to be an illegal immigrant. If not for Brown’s sanctuary policies, perhaps the illegal would have been handed over to the authorities.
"That’s a lie," Brown countered. "There’s nothing that stops any local official from notifying ICE that people are about to be released."
The two continued their spat after the event.
“I think Fox News exploits this issue," Brown said. "We have criminals that do horrible things all the time. Which ones may be documented, which ones aren’t, I’ll take a look at it.”
Then, for one more dig on his way out the door, Brown pointed at Jenkins and said, "You had your Fox nonsense."
Jenkins's Fox colleagues rallied to his side. "The Five" panel (most of them) chided Brown for his "lazy, cheap shot" at their network. For Greg Gutfeld it was personal. Having grown up in California, Brown was the "worst thing" about his childhood. He's still haunting him to this day it seems.
At the National Press Club event, Brown defended his decision to send National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in a limited capacity. President Trump had initially thanked Brown for complying with his order, until the governor noted he would not direct the National Guard troops to participate in immigration enforcement.
Looks like Jerry Brown and California are not looking for safety and security along their very porous Border. He cannot come to terms for the National Guard to patrol and protect the Border. The high crime rate will only get higher. Much wanted Wall in San Diego already started!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2018