Trump Appointed Judge Invokes Hitler in Blocking Biden's Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Last week, a federal judge blocked President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. 

Now the reasoning the judge used in rendering his decision is being called into question. In a transcript of the injunction, U.S. District Court Judge Mark Pittman invoked likened the Biden Administration's implementation of the student loan forgiveness program to that of Hitler after the Reichstag fire. Pittman, who was appointed to the federal bench by Trump in 2019, stated:

You know, you could also make the argument that so was the authority given to Hitler after the Reichstag fire.

What is the Court's role if Congress has given away too much of the authority that is supposed to be deemed in that branch under the Constitution? There has to be some sort of recourse, doesn't there?

It is one thing to argue that Congress is abdicating its role or that the Executive Branch is exceeding its authority; it is quite another to equate forgiving student loans up to $20,000 to an act which banned opposition political parties and jailed their leaders. Needless to say such a comparison is inflammatory.

Moments after invoking Hitler, Judge Pittman said, "No, I'm just talking. These are some thoughts that are going through my head."

Too bad Judge Pittman didn't give any thoughts as to whether the plaintiffs had any standing to challenge the policy in the first place. One can only hope the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals will take corrective action.

But even if they do take corrective action, Judge Pittman will be on the bench for many years to come. How many other Trump appointed judges will see fit to invoke Hitler when ruling on programs administered by the Biden Administration that they don't like?