New York Gov. Cuomo said Saturday he didn’t believe a possible New York quarantine was legal and that it would be a “federal declaration of war” after President Donald Trump said he was considering such a tactic for the New York metro area, Your Content has learned.
“It would be chaos and mayhem,” Cuomo told CNN in an exclusive interview. “It’s totally opposite everything he’s been saying. I don’t think it is plausible. I don’t think it is legal.”
More than 52,000 of the nation’s 113,000 coronavirus cases have been reported in New York state alone. And officials are forecasting that the apex of the pandemic there is still 14 to 21 days away.
I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing “hot spots”, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2020
“As a governor, I’m not going to close off my borders. This would be a federal declaration of war on states,” Cuomo said, adding that he doesn’t think the President is looking to start a war with states.
“We’re thinking about certain things. Some people would like to see New York quarantined because it’s a hotspot. We might not have to do it, but there’s a possibility that sometime today we’ll do a quarantine, short-term, two weeks on New York. Probably New Jersey, certain parts of Connecticut,” President Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for Norfolk Naval Station to send off a Navy hospital ship to New York.
….Federal Government. A quarantine will not be necessary. Full details will be released by CDC tonight. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2020
“I’d rather not do it, but we may need it,” said the President, who later tweeted that “decision will be made, one way or another, shortly.”
Connecticut-based constitutional rights attorney Norm Pattis says a declaration of martial law during a pandemic could be much more dangerous in the long run.
“Metaphors are no substitute for constitutional doctrine. This is a public-health crisis, a declaration of martial law in these circumstances will turn a new and potentially dangerous page in our constitutional history,” Norm Pattis told Your Content.
Metaphors are no substitute for constitutional doctrine. This is a public-health crisis, a declaration of martial law in these circumstances will turn a new and potentially dangerous page in our constitutional history.
Norm Pattis | Constitutional Rights Attorney
“There is no federal authority for such an order. The president is, perhaps quite literally, out of his mind.” Pattis continued. “This mawkish impersonation of Alexander Haig is more terrifying than the virus.”
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont says keeping New York residents out of Connecticut would be unenforceable because of “spider web of roads” leading from NY into Connecticut.
Lamont expressed concern regarding Rhode Island’s new rule to have state troopers stop every vehicle with a New York plate and knock on renters doors, saying it appears “a little aggressive to me.”
This is a developing breaking news story. It will be updated momentarily.
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