---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The federal government should not be able…"
description: "\"The federal government should not be able to hide behind sovereign immunity when the facts don't meet the protections.\" — Scott Pruitt"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/scott-pruitt-5220_behind_the-federal-government-should-not-be-abl_2173556.jpg"
---

#  The federal government should not be able to hide behind…

![“The federal government should not be able to hide behind sovereign immunity when the facts don't meet the protections.” quote by Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/scott-pruitt-5220_behind_the-federal-government-should-not-be-abl_2173556.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/scott-pruitt-5220_behind_the-federal-government-should-not-be-abl_2173556.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/scott-pruitt-5220_behind_the-federal-government-should-not-be-abl_2173556.jpg)

> “The federal government should not be able to hide behind sovereign immunity when the facts don't meet the protections.”

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The government should not use legal shields to avoid accountability when evidence fails to meet legal standards.

**In simple terms:** Government shouldn't hide behind immunity when facts are weak.

Key Takeaway

Demand transparency and accountability.

Themes

law government accountability

Mood

critical urgent

Type

political legal

When to use this quote

- policy advocacy
- legal reform
- journalism
- public oversight

Key Concepts

sovereign immunity legal standards public trust

Questions to Reflect On

- What mechanisms ensure government accountability?
- How can citizens influence legal reforms?

A Different Perspective

Legal protections can be misused to block justice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Federal government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/)

## Related quotes

> [It should be appreciated that this whole effort to hold leaders of states criminally responsible is a rather radical challenge to territorial sovereignty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/it-should-be-appreciated-that-this-whole-effort-to-hold-leaders-of/)

[Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/)

> [You have to learn how to love to watch film, be able to learn how to love protections at the end of the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-haskins/you-have-to-learn-how-to-love-to-watch-film-be-able-to-learn-how-to/)

[Dwayne Haskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-haskins/)

> [Workers need to know that the law is on their side and protections are in place that can provide support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-lamont/workers-need-to-know-that-the-law-is-on-their-side-and-protections/)

[Ned Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-lamont/)

> [One of your greatest protections against making bad choices is to not put on any mask of anonymity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-l-cook/one-of-your-greatest-protections-against-making-bad-choices-is-to-not/)

[Quentin L. Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-l-cook/)

> [We all have legitimate concerns over the way our personal data is used and stored and it is right that there are protections to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priti-patel/we-all-have-legitimate-concerns-over-the-way-our-personal-data-is/)

[Priti Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priti-patel/)

> [The bottom line is the best consumer protections are competitive, innovative markets that are transparent. Now, they need to be vigorously policed for force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-hensarling/the-bottom-line-is-the-best-consumer-protections-are-competitive/)

[Jeb Hensarling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-hensarling/)

> [“Reason is the noblest of protections.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaudio-marashi/reason-is-the-noblest-of-protections/)

[Klaudio Marashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaudio-marashi/)

> [Al Qaeda doesn't abide by the Geneva Conventions, so in my opinion, they should not be afforded the protections of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/al-qaeda-doesn-t-abide-by-the-geneva-conventions-so-in-my-opinion/)

[Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/)

> [We should not chip away at the protections that have built the largest economy and the largest middle class in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/we-should-not-chip-away-at-the-protections-that-have-built-the/)

[Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/)

> [All of these 'protections' were put into place to provide public school teachers with the kind of job security and cushy work rules that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gallagher/all-of-these-protections-were-put-into-place-to-provide-public-school/)

[Mike Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gallagher/)

> [Lawmakers who support CISA will tell you the bill includes some privacy protections. They're right. But these 'protections' are superficial and include broad loopholes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/lawmakers-who-support-cisa-will-tell-you-the-bill-includes-some/)

[Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/)

> [As Speaker, I passed protections for Mainers with pre-existing conditions to prevent insurance companies from denying them coverage - that's the kind of leadership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gideon/as-speaker-i-passed-protections-for-mainers-with-pre-existing/)

[Sara Gideon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gideon/)

> [We can plant bugs in machines. Once you go on the network, I can identify your machine. You will never be safe whatever protections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-can-plant-bugs-in-machines-once-you-go-on-the-network-i-can/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [There are several good protections against temptations, but the surest is cowardice., http://dsss.ner.istmein.de/ka3Jcpsj.html Ritalin insufflation dose, 073, http://qsss.ner.istmein.de/dg4Ecdub.html Marijuana blackberry 85xx themes, &gt;:\[, http://wsss.ner.istmein.de/wr7Ajpos.html…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pcjgeqsi/there-are-several-good-protections-against-temptations-but-the-surest/)

Pcjgeqsi

> [One of the best protections against disappointment is to have a lot going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/one-of-the-best-protections-against-disappointment-is-to-have-a-lot/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

## More by Scott Pruitt

> [We're a small state. Our quantity of representation in Washington is not as large as a Texas, an Ohio, or a New York. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/we-re-a-small-state-our-quantity-of-representation-in-washington-is/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [Most lawsuits against the EPA historically have come either because of the agency's lack of regard for a statute or because the EPA failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/most-lawsuits-against-the-epa-historically-have-come-either-because/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [I don't hang with polluters; I prosecute them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-don-t-hang-with-polluters-i-prosecute-them/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [Since my election as Oklahoma attorney general in 2010, I have been a proud member of a group of federalism-minded state attorneys general who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/since-my-election-as-oklahoma-attorney-general-in-2010-i-have-been-a/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [When you look at farmers and ranchers, for example, they are our first environmentalists. They are our first conservationists. When you look at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/when-you-look-at-farmers-and-ranchers-for-example-they-are-our-first/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [This notion that we cannot be about jobs and stewardship of the environment is just simply not right. We've always done that well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/this-notion-that-we-cannot-be-about-jobs-and-stewardship-of-the/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [I'm going to have a very thoughtful and meaningful enforcement response to Superfund to make sure that we are achieving good outcomes for citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-m-going-to-have-a-very-thoughtful-and-meaningful-enforcement/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [The Constitutional framework of checks and balances matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/the-constitutional-framework-of-checks-and-balances-matters/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [I spent many hours in the batting cage. I remember many days when my hands were pretty cut up and bleeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-spent-many-hours-in-the-batting-cage-i-remember-many-days-when-my/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [Lead poisoning is an insidious menace that robs our citizens of their fullest potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/lead-poisoning-is-an-insidious-menace-that-robs-our-citizens-of-their/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [I spent a couple years just earnestly praying, asking the question that I don't think we ask enough: 'God what do you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-spent-a-couple-years-just-earnestly-praying-asking-the-question/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [This paradigm that says we have to choose industry over the environment or the environment over industry is the old way of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/this-paradigm-that-says-we-have-to-choose-industry-over-the/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [We know humans have most flourished during times of what? Warming trends. So I think there's assumptions made that because the climate is warming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/we-know-humans-have-most-flourished-during-times-of-what-warming/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [What the American people deserve, I think, is a true, legitimate, peer-reviewed, objective, transparent discussion about CO2.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/what-the-american-people-deserve-i-think-is-a-true-legitimate-peer/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

> [Now having the honor of working for him, it is abundantly clear that President Trump is the most consequential leader of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/now-having-the-honor-of-working-for-him-it-is-abundantly-clear-that/)

[Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

[Explore all 102 Scott Pruitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/)

## More Behind quotes

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/)

[Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/)

> [I'm not the type of player that's going to run in behind or go past three and score.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/i-m-not-the-type-of-player-that-s-going-to-run-in-behind-or-go-past/)

[Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/)

> [I hadn't been to drama school. I hadn't been to university and acted there. I had no qualifications behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-hadn-t-been-to-drama-school-i-hadn-t-been-to-university-and-acted/)

[David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/)

> [For girls who want to get their waistline down a little bit and don't have any weights in the house, they can actually use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepa/for-girls-who-want-to-get-their-waistline-down-a-little-bit-and-don-t/)

[Pepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepa/)

> [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [I'm not on any social media; I don't even know what things are. I'm so behind the times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemarie-dewitt/i-m-not-on-any-social-media-i-don-t-even-know-what-things-are-i-m-so/)

[Rosemarie DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemarie-dewitt/)

> [I think we were raised in a nice Texas Jewish family where education was the most important thing, and close behind that was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-loeb/i-think-we-were-raised-in-a-nice-texas-jewish-family-where-education/)

[Lisa Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-loeb/)

> [I am hands-on in any project that I am associated with. I just don't want to put my face or name and lend it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/i-am-hands-on-in-any-project-that-i-am-associated-with-i-just-don-t/)

[Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/)

> [I don't really have loads of friends - three or four who are close. The thing that I love the most is playing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-odell/i-don-t-really-have-loads-of-friends-three-or-four-who-are-close-the/)

[Tom Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-odell/)

> [There's something about the superheroes and the idea behind their relationship with humans, whether it's a metaphor for the better part of ourselves, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gregg/there-s-something-about-the-superheroes-and-the-idea-behind-their/)

[Clark Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gregg/)

> [I refuse to say things behind people's backs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-refuse-to-say-things-behind-people-s-backs/)

[Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/)

> [There's a lot of mountain climbers trapped inside of bodies of people behind the counter at Kinko's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-a-lot-of-mountain-climbers-trapped-inside-of-bodies-of-people/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [From every little territory I've been, I've picked something up, things that I could use to better my game, to take with me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-babel/from-every-little-territory-i-ve-been-i-ve-picked-something-up-things/)

[Ryan Babel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-babel/)

> [I was a photographer. That's how I began my career, behind the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-tripathi/i-was-a-photographer-that-s-how-i-began-my-career-behind-the-camera/)

[Shweta Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-tripathi/)

Browse all 1,625 Behind quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The federal government should not be able to hide behind sovereign immunity when the facts don't meet the protections.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Scott Pruitt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/the-federal-government-should-not-be-able-to-hide-behind-sovereign/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Behind"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/the-federal-government-should-not-be-able-to-hide-behind-sovereign/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/scott-pruitt-5220_behind_the-federal-government-should-not-be-abl_2173556.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/scott-pruitt-5220_behind_the-federal-government-should-not-be-abl_2173556.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/scott-pruitt-5220_behind_the-federal-government-should-not-be-abl_2173556.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The federal government should not be able to hide behind sovereign immunity when the facts don't meet the…” — Scott Pruitt",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Scott Pruitt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The federal government should not be...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/the-federal-government-should-not-be-able-to-hide-behind-sovereign/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/the-federal-government-should-not-be-able-to-hide-behind-sovereign/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
