Washington sues to block Trump's federal takeover of its police department as crackdown intensifies

Washington is seeking an emergency restraining order to block President Donald Trump’s takeover of its police department. District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit Friday, after Trump Attorney General Pam Bondi named an emergency police commissioner with all the powers of the police chief. Schwalb says Trump is going beyond his legal power over the nation's capital. Schwalb wants a judge to find control of Washington police remains in district hands. The Justice Department has declined to comment. The Republican president federalized the police department this week after declaring an emergency over crime in the city. Washington has historically struggled with crime but has driven violent crime rates down recently.