Goodlatte defends staff work on Trump immigration order

Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte has come under fire amid reports that members of his staff worked with the Trump administration on the president’s executive order on immigration.

Goodlatte, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, defended his staff’s efforts – and the controversial executive order – in a statement on Tuesday.

“My staff on the House Judiciary Committee are some of the best on Capitol Hill. They are experts in their respective fields and I proudly allowed them to provide their expertise to the Trump transition team on immigration law. To be clear, while they gave advice to the new Administration, they did not have decision making authority on the policy. The final decision was made at the highest levels of the Trump Administration, and I support the President’s executive order. My staff had no control of the language contained in the President’s executive order, the timing of the announcement, the rollout and subsequent implementation, and the coordination with Congress. I am proud of my staff—they are an asset to me, Congress, and the American people.”