WASHINGTON, DC – After the Trump administration federalized the California National Guard over the objections of state officials and local law enforcement to fulfill his own political agenda, Attorney General Rob Bonta was quick to sue the administration, citing a violation of state law.

“What the Trump administration has done here is unnecessary, it’s not constructive, it’s harmful,” AG Bonta told MSNBC’s The Weekend. “It has only led to inflame tensions and provoke, as opposed to calm and create peace. And most importantly, it’s unlawful, which is why we brought the Trump administration to court for the 24th time in 20 weeks today for violating the law.”

Key highlights from AG Bonta’s interview with The Weeknight:

• “And we want the law to be followed. And yes, that includes the President of the United States, who here has overstepped. He’s trying to exercise authority he does not have.”

• “The law also requires that the calling and deployment of the National Guard be issued through the governor, meaning that we need the consent of the governor of the state of California, Governor Newsom here. And he not only does not consent, he strenuously objects to the deployment of the National Guard.”
• “He is a repeat offender when it comes to breaking the law, violating the Constitution, and we will be resolute, immovable, and unapologetic in our commitment to ensure that the President of the United States of America only does unlawful things and it is not allowed to break the law or violate the Constitution.”
• “And so he wants to have political vindication through his official role, which is completely inappropriate, and often manifests itself in unlawful actions as is the action of trying to bring the National Guard in when there’s no authority to do so.”
• “He seeks political vindication . He is not a president for all Americans. He tries to attack blue states and blue jurisdictions. California and LA is just the latest example.”
• It’s unfortunate that the President of the United States is seemingly intentionally and deliberately provoking the situation, stoking the flames, looking for a fight, trying to create chaos and confusion, potentially even violence, when everyone in California wants our leaders here are seeking and calling for peace, for calm, are appropriate, lawful exercises of constitutional rights.”
• “The President can do many lawful things, but he cannot do unlawful things. And what he has tried to do here is exercise authority he doesn’t have. So yes, this is an illegal order.”

In a later segment of the show, New Jersey AG Matt Platkin and Massachusetts AG Andrea Campbell also weighed in on Trump’s abuse of power and emphasized Democratic AGs’ roles in combating an administration that continues to violate the Constitution.

Key highlights from The Weeknight panel interview:

• “And so I’m proud to stand with my Democratic AGs in pushing back and fighting against what is certainly going to change the fabric and reputation of this country,” AG Campbell said. “And most importantly,we hope that folks wake up to get a sense of what’s going on and join our efforts.”

• “So when you see this very clear weaponization of the Department of Justice and federal law enforcement agencies in a way that is unprecedented and that has devastated the relationship between state and local law enforcement,” AG Platkin said. “The result is that people in my state and in states across the country are less safe.”
• “They have made it crystal clear from day one, even with the birthright citizenship attack that they do not want to put forward policies or implement policies in a lawful way,” AG Campbell said. “Their goal is to undermine the rule of law, dismantle the Constitution. And folks, rightfully so, should be frustrated, angered. There’s a whole range of emotions.”
• “What I do want folks to know, though, is that there are Democratic AGs all across this country who are organized, who are working across state lines with no ego, no fear, looking to protect the rule of law, protect our residents, protect our higher institutions and their academic freedom, protect the billions of dollars coming to our state for public health, for our libraries, and so much more and to protect our state economies,” AG Campbell said. “That is our job. And so AGs right now, and it’s only Democratic AGs, there are no Republican AGs to be found.”

• “The through line is he’s hypocritical and he is unlawful in his endless desire to seize more power,” AG Bonta said. “But the silver lining is our Constitution deliberately, intentionally by design, creates a separation of powers, a sharing of power between the states and the federal government among the three branches of government.”
• We prepared and that’s why as my colleagues have noted day one we were ready, not because we want a political fight or because we have personal differences,” AG Platkin said. “But because this administration is acting in ways that are unprecedented unlawful and downright dangerous for the people of our states.”

• “How we stay prepared is to keep doing what we’ve been doing, which is standing up for the rule of law, standing up for the rights of our residents, and working in a coordinated fashion to protect them,” AG Platkin said.

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