Jamie Raskin opened his statement with a blunt warning: President Donald Trump’s move to seize control of Washington, D.C.’s police force is a “fascist hostile takeover” that shreds the limits of presidential authority. He announced urgent legislation with fellow Democrats to block the order, declaring, “There is no federal emergency justifying such a takeover.”
Jamie Raskin underscored that the action is more than a dispute over policing—it is a direct test of whether Congress will defend the rule of law against authoritarian overreach. “If we allow this, we invite the dismantling of local self-government across America,” he cautioned.
Understanding the D.C. Home Rule Act
Jamie Raskin explained that the D.C. Home Rule Act of 1973 gave the president narrow authority only to request the Metropolitan Police Department for specific federal purposes—not to assume full control. “Congress never granted the sweeping power Trump is attempting to exercise,” Raskin said.
Jamie Raskin argued that Trump’s directive ignores both the letter and spirit of the law, bypassing D.C.’s elected officials and its residents. “This is a naked assertion of dominance over 700,000 taxpaying Americans who have no vote in Congress,” he added.
Trump Justifies Takeover with Crime Claims
Jamie Raskin dismissed Trump’s justification that the takeover was necessary to address “crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor.” He pointed to official statistics showing violent crime in D.C. at a 30-year low and overall crime declining for two straight years.
Jamie Raskin accused Trump of “creating a false narrative” to manufacture a crisis. “The numbers don’t lie—there is no crime wave in the District, only a political one in the White House,” he remarked.
National Guard Deployment Sparks Fears of Militarization
Jamie Raskin warned that Trump’s simultaneous deployment of the National Guard mirrors tactics he previously used in Los Angeles, which were designed to provoke unrest and then crush it with force.
Jamie Raskin emphasized that this is part of a broader pattern: “Trump’s real goal is to militarize and federalize cities that didn’t vote for him, turning local communities into occupied territory.”
Pam Bondi and the Epstein Shadow
Jamie Raskin condemned Attorney General Pam Bondi’s appointment of DEA Administrator Terry Cole as “emergency police commissioner” of D.C., calling it “another step in the federalization of our city by political loyalists.”
Jamie Raskin noted that Bondi’s history, including her role in the alleged Epstein coverup, makes the move even more troubling. “This is cronyism layered over authoritarianism,” he said.
Democrats Push Back with New Legislation
Jamie Raskin said his House bill, co-sponsored by Representative Robert Garcia, will terminate Trump’s takeover order and restore local authority. “We will not allow an unelected commissioner to replace our mayor’s leadership,” he declared.
Jamie Raskin welcomed Senator Chris Van Hollen’s companion bill in the Senate, calling it “a united front to protect democratic governance.” He stressed that Trump failed to act when the city truly needed help during the January 6th attack, yet is acting now when no emergency exists.
Local Leaders Defend D.C.’s Autonomy
Jamie Raskin praised Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton for standing firm against the takeover, quoting her assertion that it is “one of the most egregious attacks on D.C. home rule in decades.”
Jamie Raskin reiterated Norton’s point that D.C.’s police are funded by local taxpayers and should not be commandeered by the federal government without consent. “If this can happen in D.C., it can happen anywhere,” he warned.
Republican Silence and Strategic Avoidance
Jamie Raskin accused House Speaker Mike Johnson of avoiding accountability by adjourning Congress early, delaying consideration of the bill and avoiding a transparency vote on Epstein-related issues.
Jamie Raskin said the silence from Republicans speaks volumes. “They are willing to trade away the constitutional rights of D.C. residents to protect Trump’s political ambitions,” he asserted.
A Defining Moment for American Democracy
Jamie Raskin concluded by framing the issue as a turning point in the nation’s history. “This is bigger than one city—it’s about whether we still believe in self-government.”
Jamie Raskin issued a final call to action: “If we do not stand united against this MAGA power grab, the very light of democracy could be extinguished.”
