President Donald Trump's ban on laptop computers in the cabins of flights between the U.S. and Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates might be challenged in court — but will likely be upheld, former Justice Department official John Yoo told Newsmax TV.
"The claim that this is all about religion is a bit of a red herring now," Yoo, a deputy assistant attorney general under George W. Bush, told Tuesday's "The Steve Malzberg Show."
"The reason why these nations were selected in the first place has been because they have problems guaranteeing security in their own countries, and this was a decision that had been made by the Obama administration's Department of Homeland Security.
"So, the only problem that has arisen with the travel ban has just been these statements that have been coming out, anonymous statements, sometimes on the record, from White House aides . . . about how they really wanted a Muslim ban."
See Steve Malzberg on Newsmax TV: Tune in beginning at 7 PM ET to see "The Steve Malzberg Show" — on FiOS 615, YouTube Livestream, Newsmax TV App from any smartphone, NewsmaxTV.com, Roku, Amazon Fire — More Systems Here
Yoo said groups who go to court to overturn the ban will probably see their cases tossed out.
"Because this is where commonsense has to intercede," he said.
Yoo is author of "Point of Attack: Preventive War, International Law, and Global Welfare," published by Oxford University Press.