AUSTIN — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would “destroy” the career of a Texas state senator after a Texas sheriff complained about the unnamed lawmaker.
AUSTIN — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would “destroy” the career of a Texas state senator after a Texas sheriff complained about the unnamed lawmaker.
Trump was meeting with the National Sheriff’s Association, including Rockwall County Sheriff Harold Eavenson, at the White House on Tuesday. When the president asked the group how to improve law enforcement, Eavenson spoke about civil asset forfeiture, an issue which multiple state senators have said needs reform.
“We’ve got a state senator in Texas that was talking about introducing legislation to require a conviction before we can receive that forfeiture money,” Eavenson said, “and I told him that the cartel would build a monument to him in Mexico if he could get that legislation passed.”
“Who’s the state senator?” Trump asked. “Want to give his name? We’ll destroy his career.”
Eavenson, a Republican, declined to provide a name but state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, filed Senate Bill 156 on Nov. 10, 2016, which regards the issue the sheriff was talking about. Another similar bill was filed last December by state Sen. Konni Burton, R-Colleyville. Hinojosa is a co-author on Burton’s bill.
The Dallas Morning News reported that Eavenson said after Tuesday’s White House meeting that the senator he was referring to was a male. Hinojosa said he has never met Eavenson.
“I do not know and have not met with Sheriff Harold Eavenson of Rockwall County,” Hinojosa said. “And quite frankly, I don’t pay much attention to what President Trump says anymore. However, the asset forfeiture bills I have authored and co-authored will not interfere with our law enforcement agencies’ ability to do their jobs. Instead, these bills are an important protection for Texans’ property rights and civil liberties.”
Democrats circulated a resolution on the Texas Senate floor Tuesday afternoon that called for Trump to “refrain from threatening elected officials.”
“When the president of the United States threatens any member of the Texas Senate, it must be considered a threat to all Texas Senators,” the resolution states.
Hinojosa was on the Senate floor at the Capitol all day Tuesday regarding a contentious sanctuary city bill. Tuesday was also Rio Grande Valley day at the Capitol.
