MYNORTHWEST NEWS

State AG threatens legal action over Trump emergency declaration

Feb 14, 2019, 4:51 PM

bob ferguson, trump, lawsuit, I-976...

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson (Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

(Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

Following the news that President Trump would be declaring a state of emergency to fund his proposed border wall, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson threatened legal action.

RELATED: Senate OKs border deal, Trump will sign, declare emergency
RELATED: Ferguson preparing for a fight over Trump’s citizenship plan

“If Washington is harmed, my office will take appropriate steps to block this unlawful action, just as we’ve blocked more than a dozen illegal and unconstitutional policies of this president,” Ferguson said in a Thursday news release.

Ferguson has sued the Trump administration upwards of 27 times since the president was sworn in, beginning in 2017 with a lawsuit against the controversial travel ban.

Since then, his lawsuits have ranged in subject matter, from ceiling fans to coal miner rights.

For President Trump’s impending national emergency, Ferguson says his legal team “has been reviewing this issue for some time.”

“I’m disappointed, but not surprised, to see the president is once again exceeding his authority in violation of the Constitution,” said Ferguson.

Congressional Democrats were similarly critical on Thursday.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer labeled the president’s declaration “a lawless act, a gross abuse of the power of the presidency and a desperate attempt to distract from the fact that President Trump broke his core promise to have Mexico pay for his wall.”

“The president is once again delivering on his promise to build the wall, protect the border, and secure our great country,” claimed White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.

MyNorthwest News

Seattle air quality smoke...

Jason Sutich

Smoke, high temperatures prompt Seattle air quality alert

Seattle faces an air quality alert due to smoke and high temperatures, impacting sensitive individuals in the area.

14 minutes ago

Seattle (1)...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Here’s where Seattle ranks for ‘happiest places to live’ in the US

We may have the Seattle Freeze, but that apparently doesn’t seem to impact Seattle being named one of the happiest places to live in the U.S.

38 minutes ago

Guy Fieri ballard seattle...

MyNorthwest Staff

Celebrity chef Guy Fieri spotted filming around Seattle for ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’

Celebrity chef Guy Fieri was spotted in various parts of Seattle, reportedly featuring some of the city's eateries on his show, "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."

46 minutes ago

_spokane wildfires...

Luke Duecy

‘A war zone’: Gov. Ferguson seeks federal aid as Spokane wildfires level neighborhoods, displace 65,000

Governor Bob Ferguson said federal resources are on the way to help Washington battle 17 major wildfires burning more than 260,000 acres.

2 hours ago

Redmond teen tennis title...

Frank Lenzi

Redmond teen Kristina Liutova, 16, wins Memphis Classic — First tennis player born in the 2010s to capture a WTA title

A 16-year-old from Redmond made professional tennis history on Sunday by winning the Memphis Classic — her very first Women's Tennis Association tournament.

2 hours ago

spokane fire (2)...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘A lot of terror’: KXLY anchor recounts Spokane fire erupting yards from where he stood as he helped families evacuate

KXLY weather anchor Mark Peterson is among the thousands of residents who evacuated as three wildfires exploded in Spokane.

3 hours ago

State AG threatens legal action over Trump emergency declaration