The Trump administration has threatened to defund "anarchist jurisdictions" and now New York City, Seattle, and Portland, destroyed by riots, looting, and arson are suing in federal court for their money.
The cities are seeking, in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, for the Justice Department, led by Attorney General William Barr, to remove the anarchist jurisdictions and block the Trump administration from withholding federal funds.
"Seattle and people across America need help fighting a pandemic that has claimed over 220,000 American lives, fixing an economic crisis that has left hundreds of thousands of Americans unemployed, and bringing America together during this civil rights reckoning,'' Seattle Democrat Mayor Jenny Durkan wrote in a statement, The Hill reported. "Instead, the president chooses to ignore science, divide Americans, and threaten the lifeline for many struggling in this time."
President Donald Trump issued the memo threatening to defund Democrat-led cities that "permit anarchy," and AG Barr designated New York City, Seattle, and Portland as "anarchist jurisdictions" for refusing law enforcement assistance amid extended rioting, looting, vandalism, destruction, unrest, and arson.
The lawsuit argues funding is a congressional authority, not executive, and the DOJ designations are discretionary and vague.
Trump tweeted Sept. 2:
"My Administration will do everything in its power to prevent weak mayors and lawless cities from taking Federal dollars while they let anarchists harm people, burn buildings, and ruin lives and businesses. We’re putting them on notice today. @RussVought45"
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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