A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump acted illegally in deploying the National Guard to address protests in the Los Angeles area.
In a ruling issued Thursday evening, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer wrote that such use of the National Guard was a violation of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution and exceeded the statutory authority granted to the president.
The order, which takes effect Friday, says the administration must return control of the California National Guard to the state of California.
It does seem the power of the judiciary will be challenged quite soon.
It will probably be with a tweet saying "Make me. You and what army?" and the courts will need to rely on the US military choosing the Constitution over the Commander in Chief.
May we all have the fortune to live securely in less interesting times. I suppose it is our duty to make that happen.
Might be true, but since the orders are illegal, the NG are following illegal orders if they continue, meaning potential court martial (depending on many factors).
He does, but anyone following illegal orders doesn’t. Sure, he could pardon them, but only after a long, expensive, and potentially life-changing legal battle after which they’re convicted.
That doesn’t sound like a fight most regular troops should want to gamble on.
That’s true, but trump is transactional. He and Giuliani were selling them for 2 million a pop. How many military regulars can afford one? Why should trump care to pardon them if they can’t give him something?