DC lawsuit challenges Trump's National Guard deployment as a forced 'military occupation'

The District of Columbia on Thursday challenged President Donald Trump’s use of the National Guard in Washington, asking a federal court to intervene even as he plans to deploy troops to other cities in the name of reducing crime.

- by Lindsay Whitehurst and Gary Fields Associated Press

Brian Schwalb, the district’s elected attorney general, stated in a lawsuit that the deployment, which now involves more than 1,000 troops, constitutes an illegal use of the military for domestic law enforcement purposes.

"No American jurisdiction should be involuntarily subjected to military occupation," Schwalb wrote.

The White House said deploying the Guard to protect federal assets and assist law enforcement is within Trump's authority as President.

"This lawsuit is nothing more than another attempt — at the detriment of D.C. residents and visitors — to undermine the President's highly successful operations to stop violent crime in D.C.," spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said.

Members of the D.C. National Guard have had their orders extended through December, according to a Guard official. While that does not necessarily mean all those troops will serve that long, it is a strong indication that their role will not wind down soon.