August 9, 2017
“I am deeply troubled by President Trump’s bellicose rhetoric on North Korea: it does absolutely nothing to calm tensions and I fear it is only making matters worse. That said, North Korea’s nuclear weapons and the inter-continental ballistic missiles it has developed to deliver them present a grave danger, the greatest danger to world peace today. Nonetheless, this situation does NOT authorize unilateral military action. If the President concludes an attack is necessary, both the Constitution (Article 1 Section 8) and the law (War Powers Act) clearly require him to come to the Congress for authorization BEFORE taking action. Military action absent such authorization and absent an immediate threat is illegal and unconstitutional. Instead of promising “fire and fury”, the President should be working with other countries to seek a diplomatic solution and to ensure that sanctions against North Korea are enforced. The President should also talk directly with Congress to keep us informed on any activity that may require our input”.