WASHINGTON – The District of Columbia has sued President Donald Trump and his administration over his federal takeover of the city’s police force, arguing that the president abused his power with his “brazen” intervention.
The lawsuit, filed on Aug. 15 by the District of Columbia’s Attorney General Brian Schwalb, says Trump exceeded his authority under the Home Rule Act of 1973 when he invoked a section of the federal law by declaring a local crime emergency to take over the Metropolitan Police Department.
More: How DC’s unique status let Trump take control of police, deploy National Guard
Schwalb cited language in the provision that says the president’s ability to federalize the Washington, D.C., police force is limited to “federal purposes.” The suit also states the law does not permit a full takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department but only requires Mayor Muriel Bowser to “provide services” of the department to the federal government.
“By illegally declaring a takeover of MPD, the Administration is abusing its temporary, limited authority under the law,” Schwalb said in a statement. “This is the gravest threat to Home Rule DC has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it.”
This is a developing story.
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DC sues Trump over federal takeover of police department
