Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said Friday that he is considering legal action to oppose President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to divert money to build a southern border wall.
“As Attorney General, I am committed to defending the rule of law and addressing the improper use of the Emergency Powers Act to build a wall on the US-Mexico border,” Weiser said in a statement. “This includes analyzing how this declaration will affect Colorado and then deciding whether the State of Colorado should file a lawsuit or support one brought by others …”
Earlier in the day, Weiser tweeted that his office would use “every tool at our disposal” to fight Trump’s action.
Democratic leaders in other states also were entering the fray, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom announcing firm plans to sue Trump. The American Civil Liberties Union also said it plans to challenge Trump’s declaration in court.
A national emergency can only be declared, under the rule of law, with a legitimate basis. Today's announcement threatens harm to millions, diverting funds from their proper purpose and undermining emergency preparedness.
We will fight this action with every tool at our disposal.— Phil Weiser (@pweiser) February 15, 2019
Trump’s declaration avoids seeking approval from Congress, which on Thursday approved a budget deal with far less money for the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border than Trump wanted. Trump said Friday that he planned to spend roughly $8 billion on border barriers, including money cobbled together through executive actions and some already approved by Congress, the Associated Press reported.
