Washington, DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after President Donald Trump federalized law enforcement.
“We are suing to block the federal government takeover of DC police,” he said. “By illegally declaring a takeover of MPD, the Administration is abusing its temporary, limited authority under the law. This is the gravest threat to Home Rule DC has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it.”
“This is an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call DC home,” Schwalb added. “Our office will go to court to defend Home Rule, block the unlawful orders, and maintain MPD under District control. We have no choice but to stand up for DC residents’ rights and safety.”
Schwalb’s lawsuit argues that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s order removing authority from DC Police Chief Pamela Smith was “plainly unlawful” and that Section 740 of the Home Rule Act does not allow the Trump administration to “implement the EO, issue the Bondi Order, assert operational control over MPD, assume positions within the chain of command supervising MPD, [or] bypass the Mayor to direct policies and services of MPD to perform local law enforcement functions.”
On Monday, President Trump invoked authorities under Section 740 of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act to address crime in Washington, D.C.
“As President, I have a solemn duty to take care that our laws are faithfully executed, and a sacred responsibility to protect the safety and security of United States citizens who live in and visit our Nation’s capital, including Federal workers who live or commute into the District of Columbia,” Trump’s order read. “These conditions cannot persist. We will make the District of Columbia one of the safest cities in the world, not the most dangerous.”
