WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released the following statement Thursday after the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled against reinstating President Donald Trump’s executive order banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim nations:

“Hopefully, the unanimous court ruling against President Trump’s immigration ban will restore some of the damage he has done to our country’s reputation around the world. It also may teach President Trump a lesson in American history and how our democracy is supposed to work here at home.

“A president who respected our traditions of religious freedom would not have resorted to hateful, anti-Islamic rhetoric to justify a ban on travel from seven mostly Muslim countries. A president responsible for keeping our citizens safe would not hand over ideological ammunition to terrorists seeking new recruits to kill Americans. A president who respected the Constitution’s separation of powers would not have insulted a ‘so-called judge’ he disagreed with or tried to bully a federal appeals court with taunts on Twitter.

“This was a good day for our system of checks and balances.”