The state of Maryland launched a court challenge on Tuesday to the legality of President Donald Trump’s appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting U.S. attorney general.
The state saying the president overstepped his constitutional authority and broke federal law.
Trump installed Whitaker as acting attorney general last week after ordering Jeff Sessions to resign from the post. Trump had repeatedly criticized Sessions for recusing himself in March 2017 from the federal investigation, now headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, into Russia’s role in the 2016 U.S. election.
Democrats in Congress have voiced concern that Whitaker, a Trump loyalist, could undermine or even fire Mueller.
Maryland has asked that Whitaker be barred from appearing in an official capacity as acting attorney general in existing litigation related to the Affordable Care Act healthcare law.
The city of San Francisco, also involved in litigation against the Trump administration, on Monday also told the Justice Department it may sue to challenge Whitaker’s appointment.
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