[CRAIG NIGRELLI]
ANOTHER FLASHPOINT IN CALIFORNIA:
AS A FEDERAL APPEAL COURT CONSIDERS WHETHER PRESIDENT TRUMP OVERSTEPPED HIS AUTHORITY BY DEPLOYING THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD…
THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS 2,000 TROOPS ARE NOW HEADED TO LOS ANGELES.
U-S NORTHERN COMMAND SAYS THE TROOPS ARE THERE TO PROTECT FEDERAL PROPERTY AND PERSONNEL … NOT ENGAGE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE DEPLOYMENT IS PART OF THE SAME CONTINGENT ORDERED LAST WEEK… MEANING TECHNICALLY NO NEW TROOPS, BUT A REINFORCEMENT OF THE MISSION.
THE TOTAL NOW INCLUDES 4,100 NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND 700 MARINES ALREADY ON THE GROUND.
IT COMES AS THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HEARD ARGUMENTS TUESDAY OVER CALIFORNIA’S LEGAL CHALLENGE TO TRUMP’S ORDER… WHICH TOOK CONTROL OF THE STATE’S NATIONAL GUARD **WITHOUT** GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM’S CONSENT.
NO RULING YET, BUT A LOWER COURT JUDGE WHO PREVIOUSLY ORDERED TRUMP TO RETURN CONTROL TO CALIFORNIA, HOLDS A FOLLOW-UP HEARING FRIDAY.
THAT ORDER IS ON PAUSE FOR NOW, BUT COULD BE EXTENDED.
THE STAKES ARE HIGH… IT’S THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1965 A PRESIDENT HAS FEDERALIZED A STATE GUARD WITHOUT A GOVERNOR’S APPROVAL.
LEGAL EXPERTS SAY THE OUTCOME COULD SET A POWERFUL PRECEDENT FOR PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY TO DEPLOY TROOPS IN AMERICAN CITIES.