The National Guard’s top general told Congress on Friday that it would follow the Constitution and the law when he was asked about the possibility President Donald Trump would order troops to polling places for the midterm elections.

The remarks at a U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee hearing came as Democratic lawmakers also voiced unease over the continuing deployment of nearly 2,500 National Guard members in Washington, D.C.

Federal law prohibits the deployment of the military to polling places unless necessary “to repel armed enemies of the United States” and violations are punishable by up to five years in prison.

  • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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    2 days ago

    Jesus, I’d forgotten that the NG was still in DC. Seems like they’re already violating the law. They can’t police and there’s no “emergency”, so what’s the justification?

    • RamenJunkie@midwest.social
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      2 days ago

      They are combating the “Enemies of the United States.”

      Keep in mind, to these facist cult assholes, “Enemies of the United States” are “Anyone who disagrees with us being fascist cult assholes.”

    • Archangel1313@lemmy.ca
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      2 days ago

      Technically, DC isn’t a “State”. It’s 100% under Federal Government jurisdiction already, so they can basically do whatever they want there.

      • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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        2 days ago

        No they can’t, they just have an easier time federalizing them. Posse Comitatus still applies.

        • Archangel1313@lemmy.ca
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          2 days ago

          Not for DC. The NG can be used for law enforcement there. I think there are some restrictions…but not many.

          • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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            2 days ago

            The executive says they can be used in DC without restriction. That’s never been established in law and relies on an interpretation where the NG under the control of the federal government is not federalized. There’s currently a court case against the deployment and the stays thus far have not addressed Posse Comitatus though they have allowed them to stay in place.

    • FauxLiving@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      I am far more worried about whatever the administration is planning on as far as the DHS is concerned. The PATRIOT act has granted them extraordinary powers in relation to fighting ‘terrorism’ without bothering to strictly define what ‘terrorism’ is… this administration has shown a gleeful willingness to apply that label to their political opposition.

      At least National Guard members actually live in the communities that they would be asked to attack (however the administration may phrase it).

  • J92@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Seems increasingly like trump is scared of an insurrection that puts him to the gallows within the borders of D.C. Got himself a little buffer zone.