Anticipating Donald Trump might become president once again, Democratic attorneys general in multiple states are making plans to be ready to defend their constituents from whatever plans he may have as he seeks "retribution" for his 2020 election loss.
According to a report from Politico, state legal authorities in predominantly blue states are seeking outside assistance from experts in their fields for what is expected to be an onslaught of executive orders while, at the same time, "dispatching staff to study areas of the law anticipated to come under attack, like reproductive health, immigration and the environment."
As Politico's Liz Crampton wrote, the attorneys general are poring over the "Project 2025" from the Heritage Foundation which is seen as a playbook for tearing the government apart during a second Trump administration.
According to New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, "When you look at the first Trump presidency, you can see the devastating impact some of the policies that were pursued by that administration had on millions of people across our state. We need to be prepared for that possibility, even though it may not come to pass, so we’re not caught flat-footed and we’re ready to stand up for the rights of our residents should that be necessary.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta agreed and added, "We will fight based on the rule of law, the facts as they are known to us, and make sure that we continue to pursue a pathway of common sense, necessary environmental policies and laws. Our office is not new to this. We’ve been in this position, in 2016 to 2020. And if necessary, we’ll prepare to fight in the same way again.”
Politico's Crampton added, "When suing the federal government, offices coordinate among themselves to determine which states will steer litigation — a role typically assumed by the largest offices that employ hundreds of lawyers."
"Lawyers are also examining situations where they expect to need to argue that they have standing to sue — a major legal question that determines whether cases can move forward. That was critical during some of the most-high profile lawsuits against Trump, like when states sued to compel Trump to sell off his businesses and his Justice Department argued they had no right to even bring the suit, Politico is reporting with James Tierney, the former attorney general of Maine, warning, "If Trump wins, there will be chaos."
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