WASHINGTON – As the Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard, the Not Above the Law coalition’s co-chairs – Lisa Gilbert, Co-President of Public Citizen; Praveen Fernandes, Vice President of the Constitutional Accountability Center; Kelsey Herbert, Campaign Director at MoveOn; and Brett Edkins, Managing Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Stand Up America – released the following statement:

“Today’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing is long overdue. For months, Donald Trump has wielded the National Guard unlawfully – deploying troops into Democratic-led cities from Los Angeles to Washington, DC to Portland to Chicago, and more, often against the explicit objections of local officials who neither requested nor wanted federal intervention. Courts have repeatedly ruled these deployments unlawful. Let’s be clear: this isn’t about public safety. It’s about Trump’s drive for unchecked power and his willingness to abuse the military to intimidate political opponents.

“This should alarm every American – in red state or blue, Republican or Democrat. If Trump can deploy troops against cities today without consequence, tomorrow he’ll push the limits of presidential power even further.

“We need answers about these unlawful deployments, and we need legislation to ensure no president can ever again weaponize the military against American cities. If we don’t stop this authoritarian power grab now, it will only get worse. The president must not be allowed to treat the brave servicemembers of our military as personal weapons against the American people. Today’s hearing must be the beginning of real action.”