The District-of-Columbia (DC) is Challenging the Federal Government’s Authority to send Troops into the City, for what Trump (R) has called a “Public Safety Emergency.” (DC) Sued the Trump Administration in Federal Court on Thursday, Challenging Trump’s Deployment of National Guard Troops in the City.
Thousands of Guard Members from the City and Seven States were Mobilized last month, as part of a Sweeping Federal Intervention that has also brought Hundreds-of- Federal Law Enforcement Agents to the City’s Streets.
The Intervention, which Trump has said is a Response to a “Public Safety Emergency,” has Prompted Criticism and Protests from many People in the City who say Trump wants to use His Power of the Federal Enclave to Roll Back the City’s Limited Self-Governance and Punish it for Policies He Objects to.
The Lawsuit by Washington, comes Two Days after a Federal Judge in California, Ruled that the Trump’s Decision to send National Guard Soldiers to Los Angeles was Illegal. Abigail Jackson (R), a White House Spokeswoman, said in a Statement that the Lawsuit was “nothing more than another attempt, at the Detriment of D.C. Residents and Visitors, to undermine Trump’s highly successful operations to stop violent crime in D.C.”
Even as the Guard Deployments have faced Local Pushback and Legal Challenges, Trump has been Promising to Send Troops to other Cities. Like Washington and Los Angeles, Baltimore and Chicago are led by Mayors who are Black and are Democrats.
“No American city should have the US military — particularly out-of-state military who are not accountable to the residents and untrained in local law enforcement — policing its streets,” Brian Schwalb, D.C.’s Attorney General, said in a Statement. “We’ve filed this action to put an end to this illegal federal overreach.”
Unlike in States, where Governors have considerable Authority over the Deployment of the State Guard, the D.C. National Guard is under Trump’s Direct Command.
But the Suit Argues that the Deployment of the Local Guard for Public Safety Reasons, and Without the Mayor’s Consent, Violated Washington’s Autonomy under the 52-year-old Home Rule Act.
The Suit also makes an Argument similar to the One the Judge in California based His Ruling on: that the Deployment of National Guard Troops in the City runs “roughshod over a fundamental Tenet of american democracy, that the military should not be involved in domestic law enforcement.”
Trump had made Clear that such a Role was His Intention, saying on Aug. 1th that He was calling out the Guard to “Reestablish law, order and public safety” in the City. Since then, even as Federal Law Enforcement Officers have been involved in Hundreds ofAarrests and Immigration Agents have been Detaining Hundreds of Washington Residents deemed to be in the Country Ilegally, the National Guard Troops have been posted at Metro Stations and around City Landmarks. Some Soldiers have been seen Picking upTtrash.
FThe Suit is the Second the City has Filed against the Administration, since Trump declared a “Public Safety Emergency” in the City.
The First, filed days after the Declaration, Challenged the Authority of the Administration to take Command of the D.C. Police. The City Appeared likely to Prevail, given the Judge’s Comments during the Initial Hearing, but that Ended with the U.S. Attorney General Agreeing to take a more Limited Role in Compelling Local Police to Cooperate on certain Tasks.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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