Former Attorney General Bill Barr criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom’s legal attempt to block President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops amid recent riots in the state.
During an appearance on The Story Wednesday, Barr called Newsom’s lawsuit baseless.
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“[Newsom’s] comments, his legal arguments are nonsense, they can’t be taken seriously,” Barr said.
The lawsuit argues that Trump exceeded his authority by federalizing the National Guard without the governor’s consent. Newsom claims the president violated the Constitution by doing so, while the Trump administration insists the move falls well within the federal government’s legal rights.
“The National Guard is an asset that states can use for state purposes, but it can also be federalized and used by the federal government for federal purposes,” Barr explained. “This has happened throughout our history.”
In a recent court filing, administration attorneys argued that the president is under “no obligation” to notify or consult with state governors before activating the National Guard for federal missions.
Trump cited a federal law that permits the use of military forces during events of “rebellion or danger of a rebellion” against the United States.
Newsom, however, argued that the current unrest doesn’t meet that threshold and claimed the troop deployment only inflamed tensions.
“Sending trained warfighters onto the streets is unprecedented and threatens the very core of our democracy,” Newsom said in a statement earlier this week. “Donald Trump is behaving like a tyrant, not a President. We ask the court to immediately block these unlawful actions.”
The legal fight escalated when Newsom sought a temporary restraining order to halt the deployment. While a federal judge denied the immediate request Tuesday night, a hearing has been scheduled for Thursday to review the state’s broader motion.
Barr stood by the administration’s legal position, noting that the same law being used has been invoked to deploy National Guard troops both at home and overseas.
“The very same provision that’s being used here is used when the president has, throughout our history, sent National Guard troops overseas,” Barr said.
“The statute is clear: when the president makes that decision, the troops serve under the president’s command. Governors cannot veto the federal government’s use of the National Guard.”
The riots in Los Angeles erupted following a series of federal immigration raids. The White House responded by sending National Guard troops to safeguard Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel and federal buildings.
Despite the ongoing unrest, the Department of Homeland Security reports that it continues to arrest individuals convicted of crimes who are in the country illegally.
