California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is seeking information from the Trump administration about why federal agents were present at an event he held with other Democrats to discuss redistricting efforts last week.
The governor, who is a frequent critic of President Trump, filed a formal records request Sunday with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeking “all documents and records, including but not limited to text messages, Microsoft Teams messages, phone logs, risk assessments and memoranda” related to the presence of Border Patrol agents at his downtown Los Angeles press conference Thursday.
“Trump’s use of the military and federal law enforcement to try to intimidate his political opponents is yet another dangerous step towards authoritarianism,” Newsom said in a statement. “Trump is attempting to advance a playbook from the despots he admires in Russia and North Korea.”
“We will not back down in our defense of democratic freedom, and the Trump administration should answer for this pathetic and cowardly behavior,” he added.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told The Hill in a statement Monday that Border Patrol has a constant presence in Los Angeles to track down people in the country illegally as part of the president’s immigration crackdown.
“DHS is a law enforcement agency— we enforce the law,” McLaughlin said. “To Mr. Newsom’s chagrin, DHS is focused on enforcing the law, not on him.”
“Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, if you break the law, you will face the consequences. Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S.,” she added.
Newsom has emerged as a key figure in the ongoing tit for tat between red and blue states over drawing new congressional maps to be more favorable to their respective parties in the upcoming midterm House elections.
During the L.A. news conference, Newsom announced plans for a ballot measure to temporarily bypass the state’s independent redistricting commission in favor of a map favorable to Democrats that would counter the GOP’s redistricting push in Texas.
Updated at 1:37 p.m. EDT
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