(AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
The state of Oregon on Sunday filed a lawsuit to block President Donald Trump’s administration from deploying troops to the city of Portland, one day after the commander-in-chief announced he was sending the National Guard to the “war ravaged” city.
The 41-page filing claimed the president “trampled” on the Constitution by federalizing members of the Oregon National Guard for deployment.
“Our nation’s founders recognized that military rule—particularly by a remote authority indifferent to local needs—was incompatible with liberty and democracy,” the lawsuit said. “Foundational principles of American law therefore limit the president’s authority to involve the military in domestic affairs.”
Trump’s “provocative and arbitrary actions threaten to undermine public safety by inciting a public outcry,” the lawsuit added.
The city of Portland joined the state in the lawsuit, which was filed in a federal court in Portland on Sunday.
On Saturday, Trump posted to Truth Social, “At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.”
He added, “I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
Just hours later, Oregon’s Gov. Tina Kotek (D) slammed Trump’s actions during a press conference.
“There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security, and there is no need for military troops in our major city,” Kotek said. “Military service members should be dedicated to real emergencies. The members of the Oregon National Guard, their mission is to stand up and protect Oregonians, and they will do that every day. But they are not needed in the city. They are not needed here.”
Kotek urged calm, adding, “Let’s not take the bait. Let’s not respond to what the president is trying to do.”
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson (D) also released a statement, saying, “President Trump has directed ‘all necessary Troops’ to Portland, Oregon. The number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland and any other American city. Our nation has a long memory for acts of oppression, and the president will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it.”
Portland is just the latest “blue” city to be targeted by Trump’s troop deployment., including Los Angeles; Washington, D.C; and Memphis. Trump threatened to send troops to Chicago, but has yet to follow-through on that city.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed the lawsuit after Hegseth sent a memo to Gov. Kotek, authorizing 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to be sent to Portland for 60 days. Rayfield, in a statement, said that the city and state are “stable” and deploying troops is unwarranted.
The post JUST IN: Oregon Sues Trump for ‘Unlawful’ Troop Deployment: ‘Incompatible With Liberty and Democracy’ first appeared on Mediaite.