Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) declared on Wednesday that Democrats will not go along with a potential request by President Trump to extend federal control of the Washington, D.C., police department and deployment of the National Guard in the District.
Trump can unilaterally control the department for up to 30 days, but any extension beyond that period is up to Congress, meaning it would require the support of Senate Democrats. Schumer made clear in an interview on Wednesday that wouldn’t happen.
“No f‑‑‑ing way,” Schumer told host Aaron Parnas.
“We’ll fight him tooth and nail. … He needs to get Congress to approve it, and not only are we not going to approve it, but there are some Republicans who don’t like either.”
“This is, again, just a distraction. He’s afraid of Epstein,” Schumer continued, referring to the push to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died awaiting federal trial on sex trafficking charges. “He’s afraid of all that, and we are not going to give up on Epstein.”
Trump on Wednesday said that he is seeking a “long-term extension” of the federalization of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
“If it’s a national emergency, we can do it without Congress,” Trump told reporters at the Kennedy Center. “But we expect to be before Congress very quickly.”
He added that he plans to push for congressional backing of a crime bill that would “pertain initially to D.C.” but ultimately become a “very positive example” for other cities.
Both Maryland senators on Wednesday also told Semafor that they will not support any further plan to federalize the MPD.
“What Donald Trump is doing is, in some ways, a dress rehearsal for going after others around the country. And I think we need to stop this — certainly by the end of the 30 days,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). “This should never have started, so I definitely want to make sure it doesn’t continue.”
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