Department of Justice Revises Order Following Emergency Hearing
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice is set to amend an order initially issued by Attorney General Pam Bondy, the first District-based police officer, following a lawsuit filed late Friday afternoon.
During a hearing, the DOJ conveyed to District of Columbia Judge Anna C. Reyes that the modifications to Bondy’s order would be made by the specified deadline of 6:30 PM.
In the original order, Bondy named Terry Cole, the director of the Drug Enforcement Bureau, as the head of the Metropolitan Police Department.
District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwarb described this situation as a significant challenge to district authorities.
Reyes, appointed by former President Joe Biden, indicated she would impose a temporary restraining order on the DOJ if a revised order wasn’t received before the deadline. She expressed her concerns that certain aspects of Bondy’s orders contradict the District Home Rules Act of 1973.
The precise changes to the order have not yet been disclosed.
District Initiates Lawsuit
Earlier that same day, Schwarb initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding the oversight of 3,400 officers within the Metropolitan Police Department.
The District of Columbia contended that President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to bring district police under federal control overstepped the boundaries set by the 1973 Home Rules Act, which allows for local elections but gives Congress authority over local laws and budgets.
Trump previously suggested that he might implement similar measures in other cities run by Democrats, prompting legal questions. Meanwhile, the mayor views these developments as “completely out of control.”
Schwarb, a Democrat elected in 2022, voiced on social media that the measures posed the “most serious threat” to Home Rule in DC and claimed the administration’s actions could be seen as illegal and a hostile takeover of the MPD.
District Mayor Muriel Bowser opposed Bondy’s directives, stating on social media that there are no laws linking federal employees to local authority.
She clarified that the procedures required in emergencies involve the mayor requesting federal resources for metropolitan police stations, emphasizing adherence to the law.
The lawsuit aims for the removal of Bondy’s orders, seeking to prevent the Trump administration from issuing further directives or lawsuits attempting to place the MPD under the control of anyone besides the mayor or police chief.
Notably, the lawsuit does not challenge Trump’s decision to send 800 national security guards to the district, as the president’s jurisdiction only extends to National Guard members given the district’s status.
Context Leading to Trump’s Order
This week, Trump declared a “crime emergency” following a carjacking incident that occurred around 3 AM near Logan Circle, resulting in the arrest of two teenagers from Maryland.
Violent crime rates in the district are reportedly at a historic low, the lowest in three decades.
The lawsuit references Trump’s past comments regarding his ambitions for the district, dating back to his 2024 presidential campaign, where he suggested federal oversight of DC operations.
Critics, including local leaders and supporters, have condemned Trump’s actions, highlighting the connections to a broader crackdown on immigration, alongside the establishment of checkpoints in areas with substantial immigrant populations.
Additionally, the district’s police chief recently issued an order permitting local law enforcement to coordinate with federal officials regarding immigration enforcement.
Trump praised the directive as “very positive,” particularly in relation to operational checkpoints.
