Another day, another debacle in LA.
This time, however, the debacle has escalated quite significantly … to the degree that federal law enforcement has become unwittingly involved.
Much to the ire of varied California government officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
Bass, whose city is still recovering from the devastating wildfires from a few months ago, is certainly quite incensed.
“When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armored caravans through our streets, you cause fear and panic. And deployment of federalized troops on the heels of raids is a chaotic escalation … Angelenos have the right to make their voices heard through peaceful protest but don’t fall into the Administration’s trap,” Bass fumed.
Newsom indicated that he had already demanded for the troops to leave, making it abundantly clear that the president is egregiously violating “state sovereignty.”
“I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles [C]ounty and return them to my command. We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California,” Newsom asserted on X.
Indeed, the involvement of the feds is apparently not only unwitting, but also quite unwelcome in California.
The presence is also highly unusual, as a president rarely circumvents state authority when supporting the deployment of the National Guard.
“The last time the federal government mobilized National Guard members without the consent of the governor was in 1965, when former President Lyndon Johnson sent Guard members to Selma, [Alabama] to protect civil rights protesters there,” The Hill detailed.
So, in other words, the sudden federalization of the National Guard effectively breaks a 60-year record.
On his part, Newsom has vowed to sue the Trump administration for the unrequested federalization of law enforcement.
“Donald Trump has created the conditions you see on your TV tonight. He’s exacerbated the conditions. He’s, you know, lit the proverbial match. He’s putting fuel on this fire, ever since he announced he was taking over the National Guard — an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act,” Newsom raged to MSNBC.
Newsom also elaborated further on the varied ways in which the Trump administration apparently violated state authority through federalizing the National Guard, without explicit permission.
“[The Trump administration] had to coordinate with the governor of the state. They never coordinated with the governor of the state … We have no problem, working collaboratively in a mutual aid system with local law enforcement. But there’s a protocol, there’s a process. He didn’t care about that. And the worst part, he completely lied,” Newsom continued.
The perfectly coiffed governor then declared he would be “testing” his theory with an imminent lawsuit.
“And we’re going to test that theory with a lawsuit tomorrow,” Newsom added pointedly.
And, almost as in an effort to maximize the seemingly made-for-TV melodrama, Newsom really stunned audiences worldwide by calling for his own arrest.
That’s right: As noted by The Hill, Newsom has apparently “dared” the Trump administration to arrest him for his verbal resistance to intrusions from federal law enforcement.
“Come after me, arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy, you know? I don’t give a d—. But I care about my community. I care about this community,” Newsom angrily remarked.
As reported by The Hill elsewhere, DHS Secretary Tom Homan insisted that his threats have been taken out of context, noting that Newsom and Bass have yet to actually “cross the line.”
“Here’s what I said: They have a right to protest, they have the First Amendment rights, but they can’t cross that line. They can’t cross that line of impediment. They can’t cross that line of putting their hands on officers. They can’t cross the line of knowing and concealing an illegal alien,” Homan huffed.
Well, to be fair, it is rather unlikely than any illegal migrant is being “concealed” within the private homes of Newsom or Bass – in particular Newsom.
That said, “knowing” or “knowledge” of illegal migrants admittedly entail more nebulous parameters.
As Los Angeles, alongside other Californian cities, is most definitely classified as a “sanctuary state,” it is reasonable to claim that government officials have long “known” about the presence of illegal migration.
Which remains a federal crime, as noted by Homan.
“These are all federal crimes, and they’re in statute, and they will be prosecuted,” Homan fumed.
So, on that note, will Newsom be arrested or not?
Frankly, running afoul of the law ironically appears to empower, rather than destroy, the reputation of varied political candidates.
After all, Trump himself soared in popularity following the “witch hunt” he endured in New York, amongst other locations.
And, despite being convicted of 34 felonies, Trump still succeeded in taking over the Oval Office once again.
Upon observing how successful Trump became after he was targeted by law enforcement, might Newsom be attempting a similar effort for his own widely rumored run for the White House in 2028?
Maybe, maybe not …
After all, Homan did admit that Newsom, alongside Bass, would only face criminal prosecution “if they committed a crime.”
Though Homan had already indicated that “knowledge” of illegal migration may well constitute a crime, and it is clear that virtually all California officials – not to mention Californians themselves – are well aware of, or “knowledgeable” of, the presence of illegal migrants.
So, if Newsom does end up incarcerated, for however brief a period, one can only wonder how he might fare absent a steady supply of designer-branded hair gel.
Author: Jane Jones
