Barack Obama: “We've been relentless against Al Qaida and its affiliates, preventing terrorist attacks and saving lives.”

It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say.

When we choose, when we make that decision, I do believe – and there is evidence for this – that the world gets incrementally better, and that is a worthy goal and it’s worth fighting for.

The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president.

And I will fight for that, even if I don’t always think it’s going to win.