John,

Earlier this month, President Trump deployed the California National Guard and other federal troops to Los Angeles in response to protests against his administration’s immigration policies.

This was the first time the National Guard had been deployed without a governor’s permission since 1965, when President Johnson ordered the National Guard to protect civil rights protesters in Selma, Alabama.

Again and again, the Trump administration has pushed the limits of presidential authority and the use of the military in response to protest is no exception. The American public deserves to know if they complied with the law.

That’s why CREW is requesting records from the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel and California Army National Guard on the deployment to Los Angeles.

The Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard in LA was a rapid escalation and extremely unusual for the circumstances.

That’s why the public needs to know whether the administration complied with the law, including the Office of Legal Counsel’s interpretation of the law, and what was discussed about the scope of authority of the deployed members of the California Army National Guard.

If there was any communicated skepticism about the legality of the deployment or the scope of their authority, it should be made public.

Thank you,

CREW HQ