North Carolina GOP Seeks to Curb AG’s Authority to Challenge Presidential Orders
In a move that has sparked significant political debate, North Carolina Republicans are advancing legislation aimed at preventing Democratic Attorney General Jeff Jackson from initiating lawsuits against President Donald Trump. The proposed bill has successfully passed the state Senate and is now pending a decision in the House.
The legislation specifically aims to restrict any North Carolina attorney general from filing lawsuits that could lead to the “invalidation of an executive order issued by the President of the United States.” According to Republican Sen. Tim Moffitt, a cosponsor of the bill, the approach is intended to be nonpartisan. “It’s simply to keep our attorney general focused on the things that they should be focused on, which is really protecting North Carolinians,” said Moffitt.
Should this bill become law, Jackson would be the only attorney general nationwide restricted from legally challenging Trump. Historically, state attorneys general have frequently filed suits against presidential actions that conflict with state interests or policies.
Recently, Jackson collaborated with 22 other attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s proposal to halt federal grants worth trillions of dollars. A federal judge subsequently issued a preliminary injunction favoring their stance. Reflecting on the matter via social media, Jackson emphasized the significance of maintaining the ability to contest unlawful executive orders, stating, “It was a reminder that an important part of this job is being a shield against unlawful federal acts that would undercut our economy and hurt our future.”
North Carolina Republicans have previously attempted to limit the powers of elected Democrats. In December, before Democrat Josh Stein took office as governor, the General Assembly passed a bill transferring the control of the state Board of Elections from the governor to the Republican state auditor. This move is currently entangled in legal disputes.
Despite these efforts, Republicans lack a veto-proof majority in the General Assembly, granting Governor Stein the ability to block the bill targeting Jackson’s authority. In the broader picture, attorneys general have filed 122 lawsuits against the Biden administration, with approximately 93% of these actions initiated by Republicans.
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