Obama's Legal Transgressions: Abuse Of Power

There are several allegations that former US President Barack Obama broke the law during his two terms in office. These include claims that he violated the Constitution and the War Powers Act by ordering military action in Libya without congressional consultation, and that he broke the law with his Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Records (DAPA) amnesty program. Obama has also been accused of supporting warrantless wiretapping, lying about the Benghazi attack, and violating the Logan Act by meeting UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak without formal consent from the US government.

Obama's constitutional overreach on immigration

The hearing was called in response to Obama's announcement that he would be taking executive action on immigration. The President's actions were criticised for being unconstitutional and for setting a precedent for future executive power grabs.

Obama's executive orders

Executive orders are issued to help officers and agencies of the executive branch manage operations within the federal government. They are distinct from presidential memoranda, which are generally considered less prestigious and do not have an established process for issuance.

President Barack Obama issued a large number of executive orders during his time in office, from 2009 to 2017. These included orders relating to ethics commitments by executive branch personnel, ensuring lawful interrogations, and the review and disposition of individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay.

• Extend deferred action to the parents of children who are US citizens or lawful permanent residents, provided they met certain criteria.
• Remove the age cap for applications by "Dreamers", young people brought to the US as children.
• End the Secure Communities program, which had led to the deportation of individuals arrested for misdemeanours or traffic violations, and instead focus on the removal of those who posed a threat to national security or public safety.

These orders were justified as an exercise of Obama's prosecutorial discretion to enforce the Immigration and Nationality Act. However, critics argued that Obama was overstepping his constitutional authority and accused him of power grabs.

Obama has also been accused of violating the Constitution and the War Powers Act by ordering military action against Libya in 2011 without congressional consultation or authorization.

Obama's 'rule of law' hypocrisy

Obama's Rule of Law Hypocrisy

Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, has been accused of "rule of law" hypocrisy, with critics pointing to several instances where his actions appeared to contradict his stated commitment to upholding the law. One notable example is the controversy surrounding Obama's amnesty programme, the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Records (DAPA). Obama unilaterally implemented DAPA, granting lawful presence and work authorisation to over 4 million undocumented immigrants, despite acknowledging in 2011 that suspending deportations through executive order was prohibited by the Constitution. This action was seen as an overreach of executive power and a violation of the constitutional duty to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed".

Another instance of alleged hypocrisy relates to Obama's stance on warrantless wiretapping. As a senator in 2005, Obama criticised the PATRIOT Act and pledged to end warrantless wiretapping if elected president. However, during his second term, he not only continued but also urged the renewal of controversial surveillance programmes, even seeking the prosecution of whistleblower Edward Snowden. Obama has also been accused of failing to hold his predecessor and federal bureaucrats accountable for their "War on Terror" misdeeds, contributing to a decline in the rule of law.

In addition, Obama's administration was marred by several scandals, including "Fast and Furious", the IRS illegally targeting conservative groups, and secretly obtaining phone records from Associated Press journalists. Obama's constitutional overreach on immigration resulted in a deadlock in the Supreme Court, hindering efforts to reform America's immigration system. Furthermore, he ordered military action against Libya in 2011 without congressional consultation, raising questions about his adherence to the War Powers Act.

While the extent of Obama's responsibility for these controversies is debated, they highlight a perception of hypocrisy regarding his commitment to the rule of law, particularly when compared to his criticism of others for similar actions.

Obama's meeting with Rishi Sunak

Barack Obama has been accused of breaking the law on 78 occasions, including:

• Fast and Furious
• IRS illegally targeting conservative groups
• Secretly obtaining phone records from Associated Press journalists
• Supporting unconditional, warrantless wiretapping
• Ignoring constitutional requirements for appointees
• Lying about the Benghazi attack

On March 18, 2024, former US President Barack Obama met with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street in London. The meeting was described as informal and a surprise visit that lasted for approximately an hour. Obama was in London with the Obama Foundation, a nonprofit organisation he founded in 2014 with his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama.

A Downing Street spokesperson stated that Obama and Sunak discussed a variety of issues, including international affairs and artificial intelligence (AI). This was their first meeting, although Sunak has met Obama's former vice president and current US president, Joe Biden, on several occasions.

Obama's visit to Downing Street sparked theories from Donald Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters, who questioned the purpose of the meeting and speculated about a potential third term for Obama. However, a spokesperson for the prime minister clarified that the visit was an "informal courtesy drop in" and that Sunak was happy to meet with Obama to discuss the work of the Obama Foundation.

Obama's support for warrantless wiretapping

During his 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama criticised the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping programme, which was introduced in the wake of 9/11. Obama had pledged to block a bill that granted retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that cooperated with the programme. However, after winning the Democratic nomination, Obama backtracked on his pledge.

In 2008, when Congress debated the FISA Amendments Act—the law that allowed the president to give telecom companies full, retroactive immunity—Obama not only refused to filibuster the bill but voted for it. In 2012, Obama signed an extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which gave the government clearance to tap into American citizens' communications with people outside of the U.S. without a warrant, as long as it was done in the name of collecting foreign intelligence.

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