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BumRushDaShow

(160,177 posts) Fri Aug 15, 2025, 09:00 AM Aug 15

D.C. attorney general sues Trump administration over 'hostile takeover' of police

Source: Washington Post

Updated August 15, 2025 at 8:57 a.m. EDT

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has sued President Donald Trump over his executive actions asserting control over the D.C. police department and attempting to install an emergency police commissioner, one of the most extraordinary exertions of federal power in the city's half-century of home rule.
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The lawsuit came hours after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered sweeping changes to law enforcement policies in the city and said a Trump administration official should assume all duties and responsibilities of the police chief, drawing immediate legal pushback from Schwalb and Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D).

Schwalb called it the "gravest threat to Home Rule that the District has ever faced."

"By declaring a hostile takeover of MPD, the Administration is abusing its limited, temporary authority under the Home Rule Act, infringing on the District's right to self-governance and putting the safety of DC residents and visitors at risk," Schwalb said in a statement. "The Administration's unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call DC home. This is the gravest threat to Home Rule that the District has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it."

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/14/bondi-police-chief-dc-cole/

No paywall (gift)

Link to SUIT (PDF) - https://oag.dc.gov/sites/default/files/2025-08/District%20v.%20Trump%20Cmplt%202025.08.15%20final.pdf

18 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

D.C. attorney general sues Trump administration over 'hostile takeover' of police (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Aug 15 OP

Washington DC Sues Trump Calling Police Takeover Illegal LetMyPeopleVote Aug 15 #1

They have justified a plethora of illegal acts (outside of the assault on DEI, which is pure bigotry) BumRushDaShow Aug 15 #2

Democrats should have impeached Bush Hornedfrog2000 Aug 15 #4

Democrats had neither control of the House nor the Senate during most of Shrub's term BumRushDaShow Aug 15 #6

So I guess the Federal Government is going to pay salaries and benefits for the cops..... Historic NY Aug 15 #3

To some degree they already do (in addition to local tax revenue) BumRushDaShow Aug 15 #5

If Kamala Harris had become president, I think she would have done everything possible to help DC become a state, BComplex Aug 15 #11

NEW: Judge Reyes has called a 2pm hearing on D.C.'s emergency bid to reclaim control of its police department. LetMyPeopleVote Aug 15 #7

Glad the Judge moved quickly on that! BumRushDaShow Aug 15 #8

There will be a few reporters at that hearing LetMyPeopleVote Aug 15 #9

I know the courts are part of Kyle Cheney's "beat" BumRushDaShow Aug 15 #10

Here is Cheney's last post LetMyPeopleVote Aug 15 #12

Thanks!!! BumRushDaShow Aug 15 #14

Here is another great link for this proceeding LetMyPeopleVote Aug 15 #15

Judge: D.C. police chief remains in command, but Trump can likely demand help on immigration LetMyPeopleVote Aug 15 #16

Trump admin backs down on DC police control after striking deal LetMyPeopleVote Aug 15 #18

If it hits the US Supreme Court popsdenver Aug 15 #13

Trump admin backs down on DC police control after striking deal LetMyPeopleVote Aug 15 #17

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,809 posts)

1. Washington DC Sues Trump Calling Police Takeover Illegal

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 09:39 AM

Aug 15

This will be fun to watch

Link to tweet

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/trump-sued-by-washington-dc-over-city-police-takeover

Washington DC has sued the Trump administration saying an effort to take over the city’s police force is illegal.

The lawsuit filed by Washington’s Attorney General Brian Schwalb on Friday follows an escalation between city officials and the Justice Department over President Donald Trump’s moves to take control of the Metropolitan Police Department and deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to the nation’s capital. The complaint, which was filed in Washington federal court, alleged that Trump exceeded the authority granted by Congress in taking those steps.

“The administration’s unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call DC home,” said Schwalb in a statement issued by the Washington Attorney General’s Office. “We are fighting to stop it.”

The White House and the Justice Department didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

BumRushDaShow

(160,177 posts)

2. They have justified a plethora of illegal acts (outside of the assault on DEI, which is pure bigotry)

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #1)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 09:57 AM

Aug 15

by claiming there was "an emergency" or something was "a threat to national security".

Hornedfrog2000

(866 posts)

4. Democrats should have impeached Bush

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Reply #2)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 10:43 AM

Aug 15

For war crimes. He laid the groundwork for this bullshit.

BumRushDaShow

(160,177 posts)

6. Democrats had neither control of the House nor the Senate during most of Shrub's term

Reply to Hornedfrog2000 (Reply #4)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 11:08 AM

Aug 15

Democrats finally took back the House in 2006 and barely took control of the Senate that same year of 2006, (with the 2 (I)s caucusing), but without 2/3rds of the Senate to convict, it would have resulted in the same thing we are seeing with the twice-impeached dictator.

So "impeachment" would have been meaningless.

Historic NY

(39,278 posts)

3. So I guess the Federal Government is going to pay salaries and benefits for the cops.....

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 10:34 AM

Aug 15

Emergency police commissioner where did they pull that from. A commissioner is a political appointee done by a mayor or city council

BumRushDaShow

(160,177 posts)

5. To some degree they already do (in addition to local tax revenue)

Reply to Historic NY (Reply #3)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 10:56 AM

Aug 15

Much of D.C.'s budget is handled by Congress. There was a funding cut of money for D.C. of just over $1 billion in the last C.R. in March, as that funding was suddenly pulled, with a supposed intent to pass it as a standalone. The standalone was unanimously passed by the Senate and sent to the House for a vote and the House ignored it, with no intent to act on it, so the funding basically died from dereliction of duty.

This is why they have been trying for decades to become a state.

BComplex

(9,551 posts)

11. If Kamala Harris had become president, I think she would have done everything possible to help DC become a state,

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Reply #5)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 01:46 PM

Aug 15

as well as Puerto Rico. Both should have rights granted them with statehood.

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,809 posts)

7. NEW: Judge Reyes has called a 2pm hearing on D.C.'s emergency bid to reclaim control of its police department.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 12:05 PM

Aug 15

Link to tweet

BumRushDaShow

(160,177 posts)

8. Glad the Judge moved quickly on that!

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #7)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 12:26 PM

Aug 15

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,809 posts)

9. There will be a few reporters at that hearing

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Reply #8)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 12:31 PM

Aug 15

BumRushDaShow

(160,177 posts)

10. I know the courts are part of Kyle Cheney's "beat"

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #9)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 12:33 PM

Aug 15

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,809 posts)

12. Here is Cheney's last post

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Reply #10)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 03:14 PM

Aug 15

It does not sound like the judge is buying what trump is trying to sell

Link to tweet

BumRushDaShow

(160,177 posts)

14. Thanks!!!

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #12)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 03:37 PM

Aug 15

I expect almost every judge must every time they have to deal with 45's litigators!

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,809 posts)

15. Here is another great link for this proceeding

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Reply #14)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 04:04 PM

Aug 15

Reyes: We've been going for an hour and I want to give court reporter a 15 minutes break. During recess, I want counsel to try to work something out for sections 2, 3, and 4...

She warns DOJ that if they don't work something out and she enters a TRO that is then violated, that's contempt of court.
— Anna Bower (@annabower.bsky.social) 2025-08-15T19:04:45.715Z

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,809 posts)

16. Judge: D.C. police chief remains in command, but Trump can likely demand help on immigration

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #7)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 06:09 PM

Aug 15

Mayor Muriel E. Bowser and D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said the order by Attorney General Pam Bondi was unlawful and suggested they would not comply.

Judge: D.C. police chief remains in command, but Trump can likely demand help on immigrationâ€©Mayor Muriel E. Bowser and D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said the order by Attorney General Pam Bondi was unlawful and suggested they would not comply.

www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
— LindaðŸ’™ðŸŒŠðŸ†˜ðŸ•ðŸ¿ï¸ðŸ•Šï¸ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¦ (@lindaworkerbee.bsky.social) 2025-08-15T21:51:25.331Z

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/14/bondi-police-chief-dc-cole

A federal judge convinced the Justice Department to walk back President Donald Trump’s efforts to assert control over the D.C. police department and signaled that she would issue a temporary restraining order if the changes are not complete by Friday evening.

After hearing arguments on an emergency request from D.C. officials to block the Trump administration’s takeover of the 3,100-member Metropolitan Police Department, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes forged a compromise of sorts between the two sides — without issuing a ruling — on the key question of who runs the police department.

But the court did not rule on another key aspect of the case: Whether Trump can commandeer D.C. police officers to enforce immigration violations. That issue is likely to be resolved next week, Reyes said.

In an order issued this week that caught District officials including Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) and the police chief by surprise, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi named the top official in the Drug Enforcement Administration as the head of the police department, while rescinding local police policies limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement.

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,809 posts)

18. Trump admin backs down on DC police control after striking deal

Reply to LetMyPeopleVote (Reply #7)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 06:16 PM

Aug 15

Justice Department officials agreed to rewrite an order that named the DEA head as emergency police commissioner.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/15/doj-dc-police-department-control-hearing-00512503

Washington officials and the Justice Department negotiated a deal at a judge’s urging Friday that prevented full federal control of the city’s police department over the weekend, but left underlying legal disputes unresolved.

Justice Department officials agreed to rewrite a Thursday order from Attorney General Pam Bondi that named Drug Enforcement Administration head Terry Cole as emergency police commissioner, cutting the mayor and existing police chief out of the chain of command. The rewritten order will name Cole as Bondi’s “designee for requesting services” from the police department.....

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes indicated at a hearing Friday she would grant the D.C. attorney general’s request for a temporary restraining order if the Justice Department did not follow through on rewriting the order by Friday evening. The hearing came after city officials sued the Trump administration earlier Friday over the directive to take over control of the Metropolitan Police Department.

“In the interim, Mr. Cole is not going to be able to direct police department individuals to do anything,” Reyes, a Biden appointee, said. “He’s going to have to go through the mayor.”

Reyes indicated she will hold a hearing next week on other remaining legal questions.

“I still do not understand on what basis the president … can say ‘You, police department, can’t do anything unless I say you can.’ That cannot be the reading of the statute,” Reyes said.

popsdenver

(481 posts)

13. If it hits the US Supreme Court

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 03:16 PM

Aug 15

and they allow the take over of Washington DC by the Trump Cabal, it will be THE shot heard all the way across America........
Trump, having done this, has already been mentioning, LA and Denver..............

LetMyPeopleVote

(169,809 posts)

17. Trump admin backs down on DC police control after striking deal

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Fri Aug 15, 2025, 06:15 PM

Aug 15

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