WASHINGTON — Brian Schwalb, the attorney general for the District of Columbia, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington on Friday challenging the Trump administration’s takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department.
The lawsuit challenges Trump’s Monday order as well as Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Thursday order claiming federal control of the D.C. police force. Schwalb’s office argued that the orders exceed the limits on requesting services from D.C., which it says can only be done on a temporary basis under emergency circumstances.
“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, a Democrat, 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.”
Bondi announced Thursday that DEA Administrator Terry Cole would be the “emergency police commissioner” of MPD for the duration of Trump’s takeover, superceding Police Chief Pamela Smith. Schwalb’s office said Trump only had authority to request services for “federal purposes,” and that Congress didn’t grant the authority to replace D.C.’s police chief.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
