The Attorney General of Washington D.C. has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing them of a “hostile takeover” of the city’s police force under the guise of combating violent crime. President Trump recently placed the Metropolitan Police of the capital under federal control and deployed the National Guard in the city. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a directive to appoint a specific official as the temporary police commissioner, which has led to legal challenges.
According to Attorney General Brian Schwalb, the federal law governing the capital does not permit such a bold seizure of the District’s authority over its government. Schwalb has filed a motion in federal court seeking an immediate halt to Bondi’s directive. In a social media post, Schwalb criticized the government’s actions as an overreach of the President’s powers, aiming to take control of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Schwalb emphasized that these moves disrespect the residents of Washington D.C., stating that they undermine the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 individuals who reside in the district.