Heidi Li Feldman
@heidilifeldman@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp 4 weeks ago

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has made public the memo the DC Attorney General has sent to the DC Chief of Police advising her that “that the Bondi Order is unlawful, and that you are not legally obligated to follow it.” DC AG Brian Schwalb is referring to Bondi’s order putting the federal DEA administrator in charge of the DC police. 1/

respect and obey the Chief of Police as the head and chief of the police force, subject to the rules, regulations, and general orders of the Council of the District of Columbia and the Mayor of the District of Columbia." D.C. Code § 5-127.03. Having been duly appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council, you are the lawfully appointed Chief of Police of the District of Columbia. Therefore, members of MPD must continue to follow your orders and not the orders of any official not appointed by the Mayor. Regardless of the Bondi Order, no official other than you may exercise all the powers and duties of the Chief of Police or issue any executive orders, general orders, or other written directives that apply to members of MPD. Sincerely, Balle Brian L. Schwalb Attorney General for the District of Columbia 2
respect and obey the Chief of Police as the head and chief of the police force, subject to the rules, regulations, and general orders of the Council of the District of Columbia and the Mayor of the District of Columbia." D.C. Code § 5-127.03. Having been duly appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council, you are the lawfully appointed Chief of Police of the District of Columbia. Therefore, members of MPD must continue to follow your orders and not the orders of any official not appointed by the Mayor. Regardless of the Bondi Order, no official other than you may exercise all the powers and duties of the Chief of Police or issue any executive orders, general orders, or other written directives that apply to members of MPD. Sincerely, Balle Brian L. Schwalb Attorney General for the District of Columbia 2
respect and obey the Chief of Police as the head and chief of the police force, subject to the rules, regulations, and general orders of the Council of the District of Columbia and the Mayor of the District of Columbia." D.C. Code § 5-127.03. Having been duly appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council, you are the lawfully appointed Chief of Police of the District of Columbia. Therefore, members of MPD must continue to follow your orders and not the orders of any official not appointed by the Mayor. Regardless of the Bondi Order, no official other than you may exercise all the powers and duties of the Chief of Police or issue any executive orders, general orders, or other written directives that apply to members of MPD. Sincerely, Balle Brian L. Schwalb Attorney General for the District of Columbia 2
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Brian Schwalb Attorney General August 14, 2025 OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Re: Legal Effect of U.S. Attorney General Order 6370-2025, "Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia" Pamela A. Smith … Dear Chief Smith: I have reviewed Order No. 6370-2025 (Bondi Order), "Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia," issued late this evening by United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The Bondi Order purports to vest all powers and duties of the Chief of Police in Drug Enforcement Administrator Terrence C. Cole as "Emergency Police Commissioner" … It is my opinion that the Bondi Order is unlawful, and that you are not legally obligated to follow it. …. Section 740 of the Home Rule Act … does not authorize the President, or his delegee, to remove or replace the Chief of Police; to alter the chain of command within MPD; to demand services directly from you, MPD, or anyone other than the Mayor …. The Bondi Order is, therefore, ultra vires. In addition, the Home Rule Act vests the executive power of the District in the Mayor. … Pursuant to this power, the Mayor appoints the heads of various District agencies, including MPD. … Under District law, it is the "duty of the police force to
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Brian Schwalb Attorney General August 14, 2025 OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Re: Legal Effect of U.S. Attorney General Order 6370-2025, "Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia" Pamela A. Smith … Dear Chief Smith: I have reviewed Order No. 6370-2025 (Bondi Order), "Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia," issued late this evening by United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The Bondi Order purports to vest all powers and duties of the Chief of Police in Drug Enforcement Administrator Terrence C. Cole as "Emergency Police Commissioner" … It is my opinion that the Bondi Order is unlawful, and that you are not legally obligated to follow it. …. Section 740 of the Home Rule Act … does not authorize the President, or his delegee, to remove or replace the Chief of Police; to alter the chain of command within MPD; to demand services directly from you, MPD, or anyone other than the Mayor …. The Bondi Order is, therefore, ultra vires. In addition, the Home Rule Act vests the executive power of the District in the Mayor. … Pursuant to this power, the Mayor appoints the heads of various District agencies, including MPD. … Under District law, it is the "duty of the police force to
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Brian Schwalb Attorney General August 14, 2025 OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Re: Legal Effect of U.S. Attorney General Order 6370-2025, "Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia" Pamela A. Smith … Dear Chief Smith: I have reviewed Order No. 6370-2025 (Bondi Order), "Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia," issued late this evening by United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The Bondi Order purports to vest all powers and duties of the Chief of Police in Drug Enforcement Administrator Terrence C. Cole as "Emergency Police Commissioner" … It is my opinion that the Bondi Order is unlawful, and that you are not legally obligated to follow it. …. Section 740 of the Home Rule Act … does not authorize the President, or his delegee, to remove or replace the Chief of Police; to alter the chain of command within MPD; to demand services directly from you, MPD, or anyone other than the Mayor …. The Bondi Order is, therefore, ultra vires. In addition, the Home Rule Act vests the executive power of the District in the Mayor. … Pursuant to this power, the Mayor appoints the heads of various District agencies, including MPD. … Under District law, it is the "duty of the police force to
Heidi Li Feldman
@heidilifeldman@mastodon.social replied  ·  activity timestamp 4 weeks ago

There is no doubt that the Trump and the Republican Fascist Party Congresspeople would like to repeal the Home Rule Act entirely or at least gut it so as to undermine the limited self-determination the federal government permits the residents of the District. Meanwhile, a minority of Democratic Congresspeople have endorsed the idea of statehood for DC. 3/