CNN’s Abby Phillip vs. Scott Jennings on ICE Wearing Masks To Prevent Being Doxxed: “That’s A Risk That You Take” As An Officer
CNN host Abby Phillip and CNN commentator Scott Jennings debate the necessity of ICE agents to wear masks to prevent being doxxed on Thursday’s edition of “CNN NewsNight.”
ABBY PHILLIP: When people sign up to serve in the military, they’re not signing up to police their fellow citizens. They’re signing up to defend the homeland. SCOTT JENNINGS: The National Guard, though, does sign up to engage in emergency situations. ABBY PHILLIP: Yes. Yes. But that is different from policing. We all know that. Scott, I know you were going to say something. SCOTT JENNINGS: On the masks, I actually interviewed the director of ICE today, Todd Lyons, on my radio show for about 20 minutes. I asked him point blank about the masks. I said, what is the situation with the masks? Why is it happening? What is your observation? He said, I don’t like the masks. I wish we didn’t have to do the masks. He said, back in March, we weren’t. But then something changed. And what changed was people started doxing these ICE agents, posting their personal information, posting where their families are, posting where their kids’ schools are, putting them and their families in jeopardy. ABBY PHILLIP: I understand that, Scott. SCOTT JENNINGS: And he doesn’t want them to have to do it. ABBY PHILLIP: But that is a risk that every law enforcement officer in this country faces, everyone. SCOTT JENNINGS: You think they should face that risk? ABBY PHILLIP: Listen, I’m not saying that that is right. I’m not saying that is good. It’s terrible. No one should be doxed. No one’s families should be brought into their work. But what I am saying is that there are beat officers in this country, in every city in America, who are doing their jobs in extremely dangerous situations. And they show their face. Why? Because they work for the people. That is the reason. So the argument here is that’s a risk that you take when you take on this responsibility of having law enforcement power in this country, because the accountability is between you and the people. SCOTT JENNINGS: Yeah. Well, A, I don’t agree that law enforcement officers in any agency should have to face the risk of their family being assaulted. ABBY PHILLIP: I don’t agree with that either. I don’t agree with that either. But I do think that the accountability piece of it cannot be ignored. I think that there should not be accountability, Scott, for law enforcement, regardless of what agency they represent. SCOTT JENNINGS: Of course there should be accountability. And I agree with you about the relationship between policing agencies and the community. Unfortunately, in this case, certain people in our community have decided to take matters in their own hands. I heard a clip today of a congressman named John Larson from Minnesota screaming into a microphone, this is Nazi Germany, they’re the Gestapo. What do you think that does to radicalize people? That is irresponsible. And it’s not the fault of an ICE agent for that kind of rhetoric to be in our system.
