Attorney general in D.C. initiates legal action against Trump for allegedly hostile seizure of local law enforcement.
The District of Columbia's Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, challenging the Trump administration's takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The legal challenge centres around President Donald Trump's federalization of the MPD and Attorney General Pam Bondi's directive to replace the MPD police chief with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) administrator, Terry Cole. According to Schwalb, these actions are "brazenly unlawful" and exceed the President’s limited authority under the Home Rule Act of 1973.
The Home Rule Act grants D.C. residents rights to self-governance and limits presidential power over the MPD. Specifically, the Act allows the President to request MPD for federal law enforcement purposes only when emergency conditions exist, with a strict limit of 30 days of such authority. Even when used, operational control remains with the Mayor and MPD Chief, and the President must request services through the Mayor.
The lawsuit argues that Trump's attempt to federalize MPD and replace key leadership disregards these provisions, infringing on D.C.’s self-governance and risking public safety by disrupting the command structure of the MPD. The new command structure, as per the Bondi Order, would create operational havoc within MPD and pose a significant risk to the public.
Schwalb's office also argues that the orders exceed the limits on requesting services from D.C., which it says can only be done on a temporary basis under emergency circumstances. The legal filing also cites violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution.
During subsequent court hearings, the Department of Justice admitted Trump would have no authority to extend control over MPD without Congressional approval, contradicting earlier White House claims of unilateral emergency powers. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has sent hundreds of federal agents and mobilized the D.C. National Guard to the city, citing concerns over homelessness and violent crime, though data indicate crime was declining.
The Trump administration intends to appeal the court's blocking of these takeover moves to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Legal documents related to the case include the original complaint filed by D.C. and a temporary restraining order motion challenging Bondi’s takeover order.
In summary, the legal challenge asserts that Trump's takeover of the MPD violates the Home Rule Act, disrupts local governance, threatens public safety, and exceeds presidential authority without Congressional authorization. The lawsuit seeks to enjoin the Trump administration from taking over the police department and to declare the Bondi Order unlawful.
[1] Home Rule Act of 1973 [2] Court Hearings Transcripts [3] Original Complaint Filed by D.C. [4] Temporary Restraining Order Motion
- The lawsuit filed by the District of Columbia's Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, in connection with the Trump administration's takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), argues that this action violates the provisions of the Home Rule Act of 1973, which limits presidential power over the MPD.
- The legal challenge regarding the Trump administration's takeover of the MPD, as asserted in the original complaint filed by D.C., also revolves around the politics of federalization, as it is believed to disrupt local governance, threaten public safety, and exceed presidential authority without Congressional authorization.
