The U.S. government backed down Friday from taking full control of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department after local authorities filed a lawsuit over the appointment of Terry Cole, director of the Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA), to be in charge of security in the nation’s capital.
The Justice Department decided not to take full control of the Washington police after the attorney general of the District of Columbia, Brian Schwalb, sued the Trump Administration for what he considers a “hostile takeover” of the capital’s police by the federal government as part of the Republican’s campaign against street crime.
U.S. Attorney Schwalb and Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced at a press conference as “a victory” that the federal government has declined to take full control of the police through the DEA.
The reversal occurred after the parties involved were summoned by District Judge Ana Reyes, who suggested they reach a joint agreement to avoid a definitive suspension of the federalization of the city.
Last Monday, Trump declared a “Public Safety Emergency” and took control of the Washington D.C. Police, when he also announced the activation of some 800 National Guard troops as part of his efforts to “restore law and order.”
The president’s decision was criticized because the U.S. capital has the lowest homicide crime figures in recent decades. In addition, the Republican threatened to replicate the same action in other cities that are governed by Democratic mayors, according to EFE.
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