D.C. Attorney General Sues Trump Over National Guard Deployment, Calling It Involuntary Military Occupation

The District of Columbia has taken a bold legal step against President Donald Trump by filing a lawsuit aimed at halting the deployment of the National Guard in response to police interventions in the city. Attorney General Brian Schwalb affirmed that the presence of hundreds of National Guard soldiers on the streets represents an 'involuntary military occupation,' which he argues is an illegal use of military force to enforce national law. This lawsuit is steeped in the recent context of military involvement in civilian matters. A federal judge in California recently deemed Trump's prior deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, amidst protests over immigration raids, as illegal. This ruling has set a significant precedent, although it does not directly affect Washington D.C., where Trump maintains greater authority over the National Guard compared to state governors. Despite robust opposition from Democratic mayors and city officials, Trump has signaled a willingness to extend federal intervention to cities like Chicago, New Orleans, and Baltimore. As the Republican administration gears up to appeal the California decision, the implications of military presence in urban areas continue to be contentious. Schwalb’s lawsuit in Washington D.C. not only aims to disrupt what he deems an overreach of executive power but also questions the legal boundaries of military authority in domestic scenarios. The outcome of this lawsuit could reverberate through the legal framework surrounding military involvement in civil affairs across the country, potentially influencing how similar cases unfold in other jurisdictions. As the legal battles unfold, the tension between state and federal authorities remains palpable, raising significant concerns about civil liberties and the role of the military in law enforcement. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2