--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's an incredibly serious thing if…" description: "\"That's an incredibly serious thing if people think that the president of the United States can tell heads of law enforcement agencies, based on his own..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/preet-bharara-24798_friendship_that-s-an-incredibly-serious-thing-if-pe_3037744.jpg" --- # That's an incredibly serious thing if people think that… ![“That's an incredibly serious thing if people think that the president of the United States can tell heads of law enforcement agencies, based on his own whim or his own personal preferences or friendships, that they should or should not pursue particular criminal cases against individuals. That's…” quote by Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/preet-bharara-24798_friendship_that-s-an-incredibly-serious-thing-if-pe_3037744.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/preet-bharara-24798_friendship_that-s-an-incredibly-serious-thing-if-pe_3037744.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/preet-bharara-24798_friendship_that-s-an-incredibly-serious-thing-if-pe_3037744.jpg) > “That's an incredibly serious thing if people think that the president of the United States can tell heads of law enforcement agencies, based on his own whim or his own personal preferences or friendships, that they should or should not pursue particular criminal cases against individuals. That's not how America works.” [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The president cannot arbitrarily direct law enforcement based on personal whims; the system operates on rule of law and independent agencies. **In simple terms:** President lacks power to order police by personal preference. Key Takeaway Respect institutional independence. Themes law government ethics separation of powers Mood cautious serious Type political ethical When to use this quote - political decisionmaking - law enforcement oversight - public trust Key Concepts rule of law executive limits judicial independence Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens ensure law enforcement remains impartial? - What mechanisms protect against executive overreach? A Different Perspective Political pressure can still influence agencies despite formal safeguards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criminal Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminal-cases-1946896/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individuals America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuals-america-4992580/) [Law enforcement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-enforcement/) [Particular Criminal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular-criminal-4992581/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Think President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-president/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Criminal cases receive the attention of the press. The cruel and disagreeable things of life are more apt to get the newspaper space than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/criminal-cases-receive-the-attention-of-the-press-the-cruel-and/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [More than 90 percent of criminal cases are never tried before a jury. Most people charged with crimes forfeit their constitutional rights and plead guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/more-than-90-percent-of-criminal-cases-are-never-tried-before-a-jury/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [My true passion is in the prosecution of criminal cases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andi-dorfman/my-true-passion-is-in-the-prosecution-of-criminal-cases/) [Andi Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andi-dorfman/) > [Since the Puffy Combs case in New York, I will not try any more criminal cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-cochran/since-the-puffy-combs-case-in-new-york-i-will-not-try-any-more/) [Johnnie Cochran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-cochran/) > [Eliminating the death penalty...will not hinder the prosecutorial capacity to seek, or the court's ability to impose, 'life without parole' sentences for serious, heinous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-harshbarger/eliminating-the-death-penalty-will-not-hinder-the-prosecutorial/) [Scott Harshbarger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-harshbarger/) > [There's a question of building trust, and I think that President Barack Obama offers trust. Personally, I think he is a transparent individual with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-correa/there-s-a-question-of-building-trust-and-i-think-that-president/) [Rafael Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-correa/) > [I think this president has so badly abused his power, breached his trust in remarkable ways with our Congress, with the American people, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rocky-anderson/i-think-this-president-has-so-badly-abused-his-power-breached-his/) [Rocky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rocky-anderson/) > [After years of failure, I do think that President Trump has shown a lot of wisdom in reaching out his hand to the North…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-haspel/after-years-of-failure-i-do-think-that-president-trump-has-shown-a/) [Gina Haspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-haspel/) > [I think president after president has always stood behind Israel. We always will. They're our ally there. And we have to do whatever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dutch-ruppersberger/i-think-president-after-president-has-always-stood-behind-israel-we/) [Dutch Ruppersberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dutch-ruppersberger/) > [I think President Obama is going to be a one-term president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-president-obama-is-going-to-be-a-one-term-president/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Now personally, I think the president should golf every day and never have a press conference. I want the leader of the free world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/now-personally-i-think-the-president-should-golf-every-day-and-never/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [I think President Obama is the most radical president this nation's ever seen. And in particular, I think he is a true believer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-think-president-obama-is-the-most-radical-president-this-nation-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [I think the president's comfortable with a certain level of violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-lapierre/i-think-the-president-s-comfortable-with-a-certain-level-of-violence/) [Wayne LaPierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-lapierre/) > [I think President Barack Obama has been an extraordinarily successful president, and that this period will record that with a bunch of exclamation points.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-president-barack-obama-has-been-an-extraordinarily-successful/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [I don't want my title to define my character. I don't think, as a president, I will change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-weah/i-don-t-want-my-title-to-define-my-character-i-don-t-think-as-a/) [George Weah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-weah/) ## More by Preet Bharara > [I eat almost no lunch. I have a big dinner but I don't have a big lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/i-eat-almost-no-lunch-i-have-a-big-dinner-but-i-don-t-have-a-big-lunch/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [Unfortunately, from what I can see from my vantage point as the U.S. Attorney here, illegal insider trading is rampant and may even be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/unfortunately-from-what-i-can-see-from-my-vantage-point-as-the-u-s/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [I wanted to be a prosecutor - a criminal lawyer - because there's nowhere where the stakes are higher, where you can wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/i-wanted-to-be-a-prosecutor-a-criminal-lawyer-because-there-s-nowhere/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [History has shown that one cannot legislate a culture of integrity. And yet, one of the paramount responsibilities and challenges of corporate leadership is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/history-has-shown-that-one-cannot-legislate-a-culture-of-integrity/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [Insider trading tells everybody at precisely the wrong time that everything is rigged, and only people who have a billion dollars and have access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/insider-trading-tells-everybody-at-precisely-the-wrong-time-that/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [I don't eat green things, no vegetables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/i-don-t-eat-green-things-no-vegetables/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [We have witnessed the most educated, successful, and monied professionals in the country put their companies - not to mention their own liberty -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/we-have-witnessed-the-most-educated-successful-and-monied/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [I do my job. I love my job. It's the best job I ever had. And it's probably the best job I will ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/i-do-my-job-i-love-my-job-it-s-the-best-job-i-ever-had-and-it-s/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [Significant officials at publicly traded companies are casually and cavalierly engaged in insider trading. Because insider trading has as one of its elements communication,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/significant-officials-at-publicly-traded-companies-are-casually-and/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [In some respects, inside information is a form of financial steroid. It is unfair: it is offensive; it is unlawful; and it puts a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/in-some-respects-inside-information-is-a-form-of-financial-steroid-it/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [I don't get paid to serve the president. I get paid to serve the public and what I think is in the interest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/i-don-t-get-paid-to-serve-the-president-i-get-paid-to-serve-the/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [I don't like coffee but I need caffeine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/i-don-t-like-coffee-but-i-need-caffeine/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [Securities fraud generally and insider trading in particular should be eminently deterrable crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/securities-fraud-generally-and-insider-trading-in-particular-should/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [The aggressive use of wiretaps is important: It shows that we are targeting white-collar insider-trading rings with the same powerful investigative tools that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/the-aggressive-use-of-wiretaps-is-important-it-shows-that-we-are/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) > [The alarm bells sound regularly: cybergeddon; the next Pearl Harbor; one of the greatest existential threats facing the United States. With increasing frequency, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preet-bharara/the-alarm-bells-sound-regularly-cybergeddon-the-next-pearl-harbor-one/) [Preet Bharara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) [Explore all 24 Preet Bharara quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preet-bharara/) ## More Friendship quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) [Maureen Andeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-andeson/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/) [Unknwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknwon/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [If you love some one for who they are not for there body or how many friend so when you say I love you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/if-you-love-some-one-for-who-they-are-not-for-there-body-or-how-many/) [Unknow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknow/) > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [You smile upon your friend to-day, To-day his ills are over; You hearken to the lover's say, And happy is the lover. 'Tis late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-smile-upon-your-friend-to-day-to-day-his-ills-are-over-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“way. A true friend isn't the one that agrees with everything you say or do. A true friend is someone that has your back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shameek-speight/way-a-true-friend-isn-t-the-one-that-agrees-with-everything-you-say/) [Shameek Speight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shameek-speight/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Kings don’t move mountains as a favor to a friend,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/kings-don-t-move-mountains-as-a-favor-to-a-friend/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [“The real purpose of friendship was to discover and exploit weakness in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-thompson/the-real-purpose-of-friendship-was-to-discover-and-exploit-weakness/) [Brian Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-thompson/) [Browse all 45,469 Friendship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's an incredibly serious thing if people think that the president of the United States can tell heads of law enforcement agencies, based on his own whim or his own personal preferences or friendships, that they should or should not pursue particular criminal cases against individuals. 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