by Washington (AP) Hours after President Donald Trump’s administration intensified its interference in the city’s law enforcement by designating a federal official as the new emergency head of the department, the nation’s capital filed a lawsuit on Friday to prevent his takeover of its police department.
In a federal court, Washington’s top lawyer requested an emergency restraining order to stop the Trump administration’s plan to assign a federal official to lead its police. Attorney General Brian Schwalb of the District of Columbia contends that the police takeover is unlawful and threatens to cause operational chaos.
The complaint follows U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s announcement on Thursday night that Terry Cole, the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, will take over the responsibilities of the police chief and have the power to approve any instructions given to officers. It was unclear how the move affected Pamela Smith, the mayor’s employee and the city’s current police chief.
Schwalb contends that enforcing the new order will cause turmoil inside the Metropolitan Police Department and that it goes beyond Trump’s power. The 700,000 Americans who live in D.C. are insulted by the administration’s illegal acts, which violate their sovereignty and dignity. “We are fighting to stop this, which is the biggest threat to Home Rule the District has ever faced,” Schwalb stated.
A White House representative did not immediately reply to messages requesting comment on Friday morning, while the Justice Department declined to comment on the district’s case.
Trump has used obscure statutes and a fictitious state of emergency to support his tough-on-crime rhetoric and his plans to expedite the mass deportation of individuals in the United States illegally. The police takeover is the latest attempt to test the boundaries of his legal authority to implement his agenda.
Additionally, it is one of the most expansive claims of federal power over a municipal government in contemporary history. Although there have been noticeable increases in violence and homelessness in Washington, the capital is not experiencing the public safety breakdown that the Trump administration has depicted, and its homicide rate is lower than that of many other large U.S. cities.
Chief had agreed to share immigration information
Late Thursday, Schwalb claimed that Bondi’s order was illegal and that the city’s police department could not follow it. In a memo to Smith, he stated that MPD members must continue to obey your directives rather than those of any official who was not chosen by the mayor. This paved the way for the legal dispute between the Republican administration and the largely Democratic district.
The highest lawyer in the city and an elected office is the district attorney general. It is distinct from the position of federal U.S. attorney, which is now held by former Fox News Channel anchor and judge Jeanine Pirro, who was chosen by the president to serve in Washington. Additionally, Bondi was named by Trump as the U.S. attorney general, the country’s top law enforcement official.
Bondi’s order was issued hours after Smith had instructed MPD officers to provide immigration authorities with information about individuals who were not in custody, such as those involved in a checkpoint or traffic stop. According to the Justice Department, Bondi disapproved of the police chief’s order because it permitted the continuation of sanctuary policies, which often restrict local law enforcement’s ability to collaborate with federal immigration officials.
In addition to other MPD regulations that restrict inquiries into immigration status and prohibit arrests made based only on federal immigration warrants, Bondi said she was rescinding that order. The attorney general stated that Cole must now approve all new directions.
On social media, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser retracted her position on Thursday, stating that no law transfers the District’s personnel authority to a federal official.
Although D.C. has chosen its own mayor and city council since the Home Rule Act was passed in 1973, the president still has more authority over the nation’s capital than other cities.
Since it was passed, Trump is the first president to have authority over the city’s police force. Although Trump has said he would want to extend it, the law restricts that authority to 30 days without congressional permission. According to Schwalb, the president’s legal authority is restricted to mandating that the mayor provide police services for federal objectives.
Residents are seeing a significant show of force
More notable displays of force have started to occur throughout the city, causing tension in a populace already nervous from the ramp-up days. Humvees positioned themselves in front of the crowded main train station, and National Guard soldiers guarded some of the most famous sites in the world. Homeless persons were assisted by volunteers in leaving established encampments to locations that were frequently obscure.
Police from the Department of Homeland Security were stationed outside Nationals Park on Thursday for a Washington Nationals vs. Philadelphia Phillies game. Secret Service agents were spotted in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, while DEA agents monitored The Wharf, a well-known entertainment district.
Bowser, who must balance the interests of her predominantly Democratic city with the Republican White House, was out of town Thursday for a family commitment in Martha’s Vineyard but will return on Friday, according to her office.
For citizens going about their daily lives, the increased presence of federal soldiers across the city, particularly in numerous busy areas, has been startling. Trump has the authority to seize control of federal law enforcement for 30 days before Congress reviews his decisions, but he has stated that he will reassess as that time draws near.
There were protests when officers set up a checkpoint in a well-known nightlife district in D.C. According to the Pentagon, troops were positioned outside the Union Station transit hub as the 800 Guard members that Trump had ordered began their responsibilities, which include beautification projects, community safety patrols, and monument guarding.
According to National Guard Major Micah Maxwell, troops will support law enforcement in a number of capacities, such as crowd management and traffic control stations. According to Maxwell, the Guard members have received training in crowd management techniques and de-escalation techniques.
The semi-regular presence of National Guard troops in D.C. is mostly utilized for large-scale public gatherings, such as the yearly July 4th celebration. In the past, they have been frequently employed to manage crowds in and around Metro stations.
