Fox News' Andrew Napolitano and Watergate reporter Bob Woodward agree there's no constitutional crisis — yet

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published 9 May 2019

Is the U.S. currently in the middle of a constitutional crisis? Not yet, two experts say. But we might be getting close.

As President Trump's administration battles with Democrats in Congress, who on Wednesday voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt, House Judiciary Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) has said the country isn't just on the brink of a constitutional crisis but is currently in the midst of one.

But Bob Woodward, the legendary Watergate reporter, on Wednesday described the situation as a "constitutional confrontation" but said that "I don't think it's yet a crisis," noting that the battle will "go into the courts" and "could take months or a year or more." He did say, however, that we're in "perhaps the most unsteady hands we've had in the American presidency ever," describing this "dire situation" as a "governing crisis."

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Meanwhile, Fox News legal analyst Andrew Napolitano agreed that we're not in a constitutional crisis just yet, saying a real crisis would be if "the courts ordered the president or the Congress to do something and either of them defied the courts." Right now, he said, it's just a "clash." And the clash hasn't even reached its peak yet, Napolitano noted, saying the "real clash" will come when Congress subpoenas Special Counsel Robert Mueller and Trump seeks to block him from testifying. Brendan Morrow

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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.

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