National Guard with weapons in Washington D.C. deemed 'worrisome' by Sen. Van Hollen
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, has expressed concern over President Donald Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard to Washington D.C., labelling it an "abuse of power" and a "manufactured emergency."
According to Van Hollen, the deployment of roughly 800 troops around the city is unwarranted, as crime in D.C. is at a 30-year low and on a downward trajectory. He believes that this move is more about Trump trying to "play dictator" in the capital rather than responding to an actual emergency.
Van Hollen's criticism is rooted in the fact that Trump was AWOL during the January 6, 2021 insurrection, but is now deploying the National Guard inappropriately to assert control. He sees this as a "raw power grab" and a direct attack on the District's self-governance.
The National Guard is typically not supposed to engage in local law enforcement activities, due to the Posse Comitatus Act. Van Hollen argues that claiming an emergency here is improper and abusive of presidential power.
Moreover, Van Hollen suggests that Trump going past the 30-day limit for controlling D.C. police would be a violation of the statute and would likely lead to another court case. He also expresses concern about the diversion of resources, with federal law enforcement now focusing on homelessness in D.C.
Senator Marco Rubio has suggested that Russia and Ukraine should make concessions for a peace deal, while Van Hollen believes that Congress should move forward with bipartisan legislation imposing sanctions on Russia and Vladimir Putin. This is in light of Trump's failure to impose sanctions on Russia as planned.
The White House has defended its decision to surge federal law enforcement and bring in the National Guard, but Van Hollen sees this deployment as a political stunt disguised as a public safety measure, lacking a legitimate emergency basis and undermining democratic authority in D.C.
Meanwhile, D.C.'s police chief, Pamela Smith, believes the surge of federal police could be useful in fighting crime. However, Van Hollen's concern remains that this deployment is more about politics than public safety.
In a separate development, a new report by 'MAHA' discusses the impact of pesticides, while another report states that two Americans drowned at the same Bahamas resort within a 3-hour span. These incidents, while not directly related to the National Guard deployment, serve as reminders of the complex issues facing the nation.
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- Senator Chris Van Hollen criticizes President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington D.C., labeling it as a "manufactured emergency" and a "raw power grab."
- Van Hollen argues that the deployment, which comes amidst a 30-year low in crime in D.C., is more about Trump asserting control and playing dictator in the capital, rather than responding to an actual emergency.
- The senator also warns that Trump exceeding the 30-day limit for controlling D.C. police could violate the statute and lead to another court case.
- Meanwhile, Senator Marco Rubio suggests concessions from Russia and Ukraine for a peace deal, while Van Hollen advocates for bipartisan legislation imposing sanctions on Russia in light of Trump's failure to do so.
- In a separate development, while not directly related to the National Guard deployment, incidents such as a new report discussing the impact of pesticides and two Americans drowning at a Bahamas resort serve as reminders of the complex issues facing the nation.
