Dingell after Trump attack: ‘Some things should be off-limits’

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) responded Thursday morning to President Trump’s suggestion that her late husband John Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress, was not in heaven, saying that some things should be “off-limits.”

“I think it’s time to put politics aside on these kind of shots. I try to be respectful of everybody, I’ve never taken a personal shot at this president, I think his family is off-limits,” Dingell said on CNN.

“We’re a family grieving, so I think we should take a lesson from this and all respect each other, period … we need more civility in this country. Some things should be off-limits,” she said. “And you know what? We’re all human beings.”

Trump, during a Wednesday rally in Battle Creek, Mich., said Dingell had thanked him for lowering flags after her husband’s death, quoting her as saying “John would be so thrilled. He’s looking down. He’d be so thrilled.”

Trump then added: “Maybe he’s looking up. I don’t know. … But let’s assume he’s looking down.”

Trump during the rally and in a tweet on Saturday attacked Dingell for announcing she was leaning toward supporting the House’s articles of impeachment against him after she thanked him for “granting top memorial and funeral service honors” for her husband, one of the last World War II veterans to serve in Congress.

“I was very grateful … but John Dingell earned his burial at Arlington Cemetery because he’s a World War II veteran, longest-serving member in the Congress,” she said on CNN.

Rep. Debbie Dingell on Trump’s attack on her late husband: “I’ve never taken a personal shot at this President. I think his family is off-limits. I was very grateful … but John Dingell earned his burial … he’s a World War II veteran, longest-serving member in the Congress” pic.twitter.com/w4VZHXRMZv

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) December 19, 2019

Dingell also addressed Trump in a tweet after his remarks late Wednesday, writing “I’m preparing for the first holiday season without the man I love. You brought me down in a way you can never imagine and your hurtful words just made my healing much harder.”

Trump’s remarks came at a rally coinciding with the House vote to approve two articles of impeachment for abuse of power and obstruction of justice against him.