Trump’s L.A. deployment ruled illegal

A federal judge accused President Trump of effectively turning nearly 5,000 Marines and National Guard soldiers into a “national police force” in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act.

Judge Charles R. Breyer ruled that Trump exceeded the limits of federal laws that generally prohibit the use of the military for domestic law enforcement. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton and is the brother of former Justice Stephen Breyer of the Supreme Court.

The administration’s rationale for the deployment, “ostensibly to quell a rebellion,” Judge Breyer wrote, fell far short of the threshold for military action. “There were indeed protests in Los Angeles, and some individuals engaged in violence. Yet there was no rebellion, nor was civilian law enforcement unable to respond to the protests and enforce the law.”

The ruling was blunt but narrow, applying solely to California, and will not take effect for 10 days. That gives the administration a chance to appeal. The judge said that the 300 troops still in Los Angeles can stay, but only to guard federal property.

Our legal expert says the decision could make it harder for Trump to send troops to other cities. But Trump said today that “we’re going in” to Chicago, offering no details.