President Trump initiated the deployment of approximately 800 National Guardsmen from Washington, D.C., to the nation's capital on August 11
This action was made possible by invoking section 740 of the Home Rule Act, which grants the President the authority to deploy troops for a 30-day period. In response, several states have pledged additional support, with Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia collectively committing over 1,100 troops to bolster the mission of the D.C. Guards.
Notably, West Virginia has made the largest contribution to this effort. The combined deployment is expected to reach around 2,000 troops.
As reported by Gateway Pundit, the Department of Defense is preparing to send members of the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) to Washington, D.C., to assist with legal proceedings as special assistant U.S. attorneys. This move is significant because, in the District of Columbia, the U.S. Attorneys Office is responsible for prosecuting both federal and local crimes.
According to an exclusive report from NBC, twenty members of the Defense Department are set to begin their roles as special assistant U.S. attorneys in the District of Columbia next week. Tim Lauer, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office, confirmed the involvement of JAG Corps members, though the duration of their assignment remains uncertain.
The deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., is a rare occurrence, with the last instance dating back to 1983. At that time, the Supreme Court ruled that such an action "violated a statute that bans military officers from exercising the duties of a civil office," as noted by Georgetown professor Steve Vladeck.
In response to this ruling, Congress swiftly enacted amendments through the Department of Defense Authorization Act for 1984. These amendments narrowed the scope of prohibited civil offices and specifically authorized active-duty servicemembers, including JAG lawyers, to serve as special assistant U.S. attorneys (SAUSAs) in cases not already prohibited.
The Supreme Court case Dalmazzi v. United States further clarified the legal landscape, stating that following the 1983 amendments, it is no longer possible for a military officer to violate 973(b)(2)(A) "in furtherance of assigned official duties." The law now explicitly permits such assignments, allowing military officers to hold or exercise the functions of a civil office when assigned or detailed to that office.
Statute 973(b)(2)(B) reinforces this by stating that an officer may hold or exercise the functions of a civil office in the U.S. government that is not described in subparagraph (A) when assigned to that office or to perform those functions.
This deployment and legal maneuvering underscore the administration's commitment to maintaining order and upholding the rule of law in the nation's capital. By leveraging the expertise of JAG Corps members as special assistant U.S. attorneys, the administration aims to ensure that justice is served efficiently and effectively.
This approach aligns with conservative principles of law and order, emphasizing the importance of a robust legal framework to address challenges in the nation's capital.
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