Justice Department lawyer defends herself after viral video on child migrant treatment

[DonViejo]

Exclusive: In a private Facebook post, Justice Department attorney Sarah Fabian says a false impression has been created about her testimony.

June 25, 2019, 6:50 PM EDT
By Josh Lederman

WASHINGTON — A Justice Department lawyer who argued in court that the federal government wasn’t legally required to provide soap and toothbrushes to detained migrant children in some conditions is defending herself after video of the exchange went viral, saying in a message to her friends that the U.S. “should do our very best to care for kids” while in custody.

In a lengthy note on Facebook obtained by NBC News, Sarah Fabian says she shares “many people’s anger and fear” about the nation’s future. Saying she is “not an official of any administration,” Fabian points out that she’s a career federal employee who’s served in her role since 2011, long before President Donald Trump took office.

Fabian expresses regret that her comments in the video “struck a nerve” but argues that selective editing, combined with a lack of precision in her argument created a false impression.

“I think that many many people believe I was in court Tuesday arguing against providing certain hygiene items to kids,” Fabian writes, adding later: “I do not believe that’s the position I was representing.”

In testimony last week before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Fabian argued that the requirement that the government provide “safe and sanitary” conditions for detained children didn’t necessarily require showers, soap or toothbrushes. In appealing a 2017 ruling that found the government violated the 1997 consent decree known as the Flores Settlement Agreement, Fabian argued that the decree does not specifically enumerate those items as mandatory.

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https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/justice-department-lawyer-defends-herself-after-viral-video-child-migrant-n1021771

[irisblue]

1. No. No. Just No.

[atreides1]

2. In other words

She was just following orders!!!

That excuse still sucks....

[TruckFump]

6. You took the words off of my keyboard.

Exactly, exactly this!!!!!

There is NO excuse for the treatment of those children. All, and I mean all, who in any way are responsible deserve a special place in hell.

[uponit7771]

9. +1, there should be an OP on this. Too many are just following orders or whistling past grave yards.

We know what we're seeing now isn't the worst of it

[dlk]

4. Incredulously, Fabian Asks We Not Pay Attention to Her Words & Actions or Attach Any Meaning to Them

Nice try. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.

[lapfog_1]

5. no amount of editing can make you say the things I heard you say

maybe the video was a "deep fake" and you didn't answer the 3 judge panels questions the way that the video says you did... but NO... it does, you said those things... you are one of the worst people to ever walk this planet. You would have felt right at home in 1930s Germany supporting Hitler and the "need to remove Jews from society" and making arguments that there was nothing wrong with "restricted rations" at concentration camps.

That would be my reply to Sarah Fabian.

[vlyons]

7. Too late dearie

You should have refused to argue FOR the Trump admin. The honorable thing is to resign.

[bdamomma]

8. if we keep pushing

and pushing something will be done.

These children and others have been treated like animals. This is Not Normal.

[uponit7771]

10. "a lack of precision in her argument" ... meaning she told the truth?!