Federal Judge Michael H. Simon has stepped aside from a legal case challenging the Trump administration’s decision to deploy Oregon National Guard troops. Simon, who is married to Democratic Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, was assigned to oversee a lawsuit made by the state of Oregon and the city of Portland against various officials in the Trump administration, including the president and the Secretary of War.
The controversy erupted when a court filing highlighted concerns about Simon’s impartiality due to his wife’s strong opposition to the troop deployment. The filing stated, “the Court must consider whether the public might reasonably question Judge Simon’s impartiality.” In light of this, Simon decided to recuse himself from the case.
President Trump, through a post on Truth Social, made it clear that he intended to send troops to Portland. He said, “At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary troops to protect war-ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists.” This declaration led to the mobilization of 200 members of the Oregon National Guard for a period of 60 days, as confirmed by a memo signed by Hegseth.
In contrast, Rep. Bonamici has publicly condemned Trump’s approach. She called the president “lying,” stating, “I was at the ICE facility two days ago and saw a few peaceful protesters, not a ‘siege.’” Her remarks were made in a post on the social media platform Bluesky and echoed during a press conference. She characterized the troop deployment as “a gross abuse of power,” asserting that Trump lacks the authority to send military troops into a city without proper justification.
Along with other Oregon Democratic lawmakers, Bonamici signed a letter addressed to Trump, Noem, and Hegseth. The letter condemned what they deemed an abuse of executive authority, accusing the president of attempting to incite violence and disrupt the balance of power between the federal and state governments. The letter urged the administration to rescind the decision and withdraw the military personnel deployed to Portland.
This unfolding situation reflects the tensions between federal and state authorities, particularly on matters of law enforcement and civil unrest. The actions taken by both sides illustrate the ongoing political divide over the use of military force in domestic situations.
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