Latest Guides

Government

Schiff Introduces Bill to Expand Posee Comitatus, Prevent Military Use for Domestic Law Enforcement

Published on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 | 10:56 am
 
Adam Schiff

Rep. Adam Schiff, who represents portions of West Pasadena, introduced legislation Tuesday to bolster the Posse Comitatus Act to prevent the U.S. military from being “inappropriately” used for domestic law enforcement.

The “Strengthening the Posse Comitatus Act of 2020” was a response to the Trump Administration’s positioning of active duty U.S. Army units during recent widespread protests over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, and considered deploying them to major American cities, according to a statement issued by Schiff’s office. The troops were never deployed.

“Just three weeks ago, the Administration made preparations to deploy active duty U.S. military forces across a number of U.S. cities, including the nation’s capital, an unnecessary step that would have heightened an already tense situation and risked catastrophe,” Schiff said.

“As we have seen time and again with this President, we cannot rely on past norms to prevent the misuse of authorities. That’s why it is important to make it more difficult for this or any other president to misuse the military in a domestic law enforcement capacity,” he said. “Americans exercising their First Amendment rights are not enemies, and should never be considered that way. This legislation would help ensure that civil liberties are always protected, including during mass protests.”

First passed in 1878, the Posse Comitatus Act makes it a crime to use the Army or Air Force to enforce law within the U.S. Exceptions must be authorized by an Act of Congress or the Constitution itself.

The legislation put forward by Schiff would expand the wording of the act to include all branches of the military, according to Schiff’s office.

“Although the Marines and the Navy have adhered to these standards according to internal policy and administrative action, this legislation would ensure their inclusion by law, as well as the federalized National Guard and Reserve components,” the statement said.

It would also bar evidence unlawfully obtained by, or with the assistance of, the military in legal proceedings, representatives of Schiff said.

Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.

Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.

Make a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

 

 

buy ivermectin online
buy modafinil online
buy clomid online
buy ivermectin online