President Trump declared late Wednesday the man suspected to be behind the deadly New York City terrorist attack this week should receive the death penalty.
"NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!," Trump tweeted.
Trump's tweet immediately elicited complaints from legal experts who were concerned Trump's say in the matter might hurt the legal system's ability to make the death penalty happen.
Trump remarked earlier in the day during a Cabinet meeting at the White House that the U.S. justice system is "a joke" and "a laughingstock." With his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, in the room, Trump said it's "no wonder so much of this stuff takes place" and called for "quicker" and "far greater" punishment for terror suspects.
Trump's tweet Wednesday evening was in reference to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday which said the suspect, 29-year-old Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, asked if could display the Islamic State flag in his hospital room because he "felt good" about what he had done.
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05.18.2024