Washington, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, released the following statement regarding the incendiary statements and offensive behavior of the Commander in Chief:

“On Friday, hours after denouncing a number of nations as “s*hole countries,” the President announced his support of MLK day and urged Americans to use the day to serve others. On Monday, instead of community service, he was swinging a golf club at Mar-a-Lago.

“If the President is serious about bringing Americans together in the way Dr. King intended, he would support a clean Dream Act this week to protect our young Dreamers who are living in limbo, uncertain if they will be able to remain in the only country they have ever known and loved. If he is serious about healing this nation, he would provide disaster funding at the levels needed for a full recovery; assistance he promised to the residents of Texas, Florida, Louisiana, the U.S. Virgin Island, Puerto Rico, and California reeling from hurricanes and wild fires.

“Senator Dick Durbin is a man of impeccable character and integrity, and I have no reason to doubt his account, nor the affirming one of a Republican Senator, of the President’s remarks during last Thursday’s meeting on immigration policy. Trump, however, has demonstrated a consistent inability to distinguish fact from fiction which makes his denials dubious at best.

“Trump has a history of racist comments and actions that predate his presidency and discredit his claim that he is “the least racist person.” It is a shame the President chose not do something today to honor Dr. King but regretfully, it is not surprising.

“Americans deserve much better from their President.”