California's Attorney General Rob Bonta, together with Nevada's Attorney General Aaron Ford, has initiated legal proceedings against former President Donald J. Trump and key figures from his administration. This action involves a lawsuit brought by a group of 19 state attorneys general, targeting Executive Order No. 14248 issued by Trump, which is viewed as an attempt to introduce extensive voting restrictions.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, contends that the executive order infringes on the state's rights to regulate elections, a power that the lawsuit claims is designated to state governments and Congress, not the presidency. According to the lawsuit, "The President has no constitutional power to rewrite State election laws by decree, nor does the President have the authority to modify the rules Congress has created for elections."
The executive order in question introduces new requirements such as documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration, altering state laws on absentee or mail-in ballot counting, and further imposing requirements on military and overseas voters. Bonta has voiced strong opposition against these provisions, stating, "Day after day, we continue to witness President Trump’s utter disdain for the rule of law. Let me remind him: He is not a king."
The order also threatens to withhold federal funding from states that fail to comply. Bonta and Ford argue that these measures overstep the boundaries of executive power by encroaching upon state sovereignty, going against the fundamental principles of federalism enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
Support for the lawsuit is echoed by California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who notes the historical struggles against voter suppression. She emphasizes the significant progress made since the Voting Rights Act, indicating that recent efforts to impose voting restrictions could erode hard-earned gains in voter access.
The lawsuit highlights that the coalition of attorneys general seeks to prevent what they describe as irreparable harm from being inflicted on state election systems. The collective effort of the 19 states, including notable mentions such as New York and Illinois, represents a unified stance against the executive order's perceived overreach.
A copy of the complaint is publicly accessible for further details on the legal argumentation and implications of the proposed executive measures.