A Biden-appointed federal judge on Friday blocked President Donald Trump‘s funding threat regarding changes to states’ voting systems and voter registration forms.
The judge, U.S. District Judge John Chun, ruled that Trump’s threat to pull funds from the Election Assistance Commission puts unconstitutional pressure on states.
TRUMP FIRST YEAR REPORT CARD: A- PROMISE KEEPER OR ‘NIGHTMARE’ FAILURE
“The President has no authority to unilaterally impose new conditions on federal funds,” Chun wrote in a 75-page ruling. He also wrote that the court determined Trump’s executive orders constitute a violation of the separation of powers.
Chun argued that the president’s powers are aimed at overseeing laws, not to be a lawmaker.
“The Court concludes that Plaintiffs have plausibly alleged, and for some provisions proved, that the EO violates separation of powers,” he wrote. “As stated by the Supreme Court, although the Constitution vests the executive power in the President, ‘[i]n the framework of our Constitution, the President’s power to see that the laws are faithfully executed refutes the idea that he is to be a lawmaker.’”
Chun is the third federal judge to block Trump’s March 25 executive order, “PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS.” The order set new standards for election integrity, including on mail-in ballots.
TRUMP WARNS OF JANUARY GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OVER OBAMACARE
A White House spokesperson told Politico that Trump “cares deeply about the integrity of our elections and his executive order takes lawful actions to ensure election security.”
“This is not the final say on the matter and the Administration expects ultimate victory on the issue,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said.
The administration is expected to appeal the latest ruling and has also appealed rulings by Washington, D.C. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, an Obama appointee, and Massachusetts U.S. District Judge Denise Casper, also an Obama appointee.
DEMOCRATS CALL FOR RELEASE OF DNC’S 2024 ELECTION AUTOPSY
Chun later wrote, “The Constitution assigns no authority to the President over federal election administration.”
Trump has made claims that the 2020 election was rigged and that former President Joe Biden was an illegitimate president.