South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that his office is co-leading a coalition of 23 states in support of President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to Washington, D.C. The coalition filed an amicus brief in the case District of Columbia v. Trump, arguing that the president has the authority and responsibility to act when local officials are unable to maintain order.
“South Carolina is proud to lead the charge on this issue,” said Attorney General Wilson. “From James Madison to Abraham Lincoln, presidents have defended our capital in times of crisis. President Trump is doing exactly what the Founders intended, protecting the seat of government when it’s under threat. The federal government has not only the right but the responsibility to keep our nation’s capital safe for the American people. When local officials fail, the president must act, and history and the Constitution back him up.”
The amicus brief details an increase in violent crime in Washington, D.C., including incidents such as carjackings, robberies, and assaults targeting members of Congress, staffers, and embassy personnel. It also claims that after President Trump ordered deployment of National Guard troops, violent crime rates in D.C. fell significantly within weeks. According to Wilson’s statement, even city leadership acknowledged improvements following these actions.
“America cannot succeed if its capital is unsafe,” Wilson said. “That’s why we’re leading this effort, because protecting D.C. protects all of us. I also want to thank Governor Henry McMaster for sending members of the South Carolina National Guard to D.C. to help.”
West Virginia co-led the multistate effort alongside South Carolina; other participating attorneys general represent Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
You can read the full brief here.
