​California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement ahead of trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in California’s lawsuit challenging the unlawful use of federalized California National Guard troops for civilian law enforcement in Los Angeles in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. Attorney General Bonta and California Governor Gavin Newsom sued the Trump Administration in June after President Trump sent federalized California National Guard members and Marines into Los Angeles communities to patrol and engage in other law enforcement activity prohibited by the Posse Comitatus Act. He did so over the objections of the Governor, against the wishes of local law enforcement, and for reasons unsupported by conditions on the ground.

“Two months ago, the federal government deployed military troops to the streets of Los Angeles for the purposes of political theater and public intimidation. This dangerous move has no precedent in American history, erodes trust between the American military and the public, and pulls our servicemembers away from their vital role in fighting wildfires and tackling the fentanyl epidemic,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today, 300 federalized California National Guard members remain tools in the President’s game, and the Trump Administration seeks to advance the argument that there should be no limits on what federal troops can do. But that is not what our law allows. We begin trial with the facts and the law on our side – and we look forward to making our case in court.”