DC’s attorney general sues Trump admin. over ‘unlawful’ police takeover
The District of Columbia’s attorney general sued the Trump administration on Friday for its “unlawful” takeover of Washington’s police department. The lawsuit followed the administration’s attempt to expand its power by appointing an “emergency” police commissioner.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced the lawsuit on Facebook, saying the takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department compromised residents’ safety and violated the Home Rule Act, which granted district voters the right to elect a mayor and city council.
“We are going to court to defend Home Rule, block these orders, and maintain MPD under District control,” Schwalb wrote. “This is the gravest threat to Home Rule DC has faced, and we are fighting to stop it.”
Legal action
The suit names President Donald Trump, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Drug Enforcement Administrator Terrance Cole, U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta and their respective agencies as defendants.
The lawsuit comes nearly five days after Trump federalized the Washington police to “take our capital back.” Trump claimed that crime is rising in the district, even though the Justice Department and MPD said in January that the city’s violent crime rate in 2024 was the lowest in 30 years.
The lawsuit revealed that Bondi issued an order on Thursday evening, unbeknownst to the city’s police, that directed Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith to:
- Eliminate the department’s sanctuary city policy.
- Install Cole as the “emergency” police commissioner.
- Reverse MPD’s orders that limited inquiries on a person’s immigration status and prevented arrests for federal immigration warrants.
- Enforce a city law that made it illegal for people to continue demonstrations when it’s been previously declared unlawful or when they were told to disperse.
According to court papers, Schwalb sought to repeal Bondi’s order that extended control of MPD, prevent the administration from further action on MPD and declare that Trump’s executive orders violated the Home Rule Act and the Constitution.
“These unlawful assertions of authority will create immediate, devastating, and irreparable harms for the District,” attorneys wrote in the lawsuit. “Most critically, the order threatens to upend the command structure of MPD and wreak operational havoc within the department, endangering the safety of the public and law enforcement officers alike.”
Schwalb’s office didn’t immediately respond to Straight Arrow News’ request for comment. None of the agencies has commented on the litigation.
This is a developing story.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
