BORDER/DEMS/HOUSE OF REPS/LAWSUIT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WALL: “The House sued members of President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday [4-5-19] over his emergency declaration to force funding for a border wall. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., asserts Trump’s emergency acts in direct disregard of Congress’ will and disputes the president’s ability to access certain funds for the wall simply by declaring an emergency. It names Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and the departments they oversee. It does not name Trump as a defendant…The complaint follows legislative attempts to block Trump from diverting billions of dollars toward one of his keystone campaign promises, which reached a near breaking point when the government entered its longest shutdown in history straddling New Year. Trump ultimately used a national emergency in an attempt to secure funding for the wall in a move that was fiercely criticized on both sides of the aisle for interfering with Congress’ constitutional power of the purse. Congress tried to pass legislation to block Trump’s emergency declaration, gaining support from both parties. Trump’s intention to tap into military funds for the wall struck a chord among several Republicans who joined Democrats on the vote.”
–Matthew Choi, “House sues Trump administration over border wall,” Politico, April 5, 2019 9:57 pm