Justice Department sues California over immigration laws

Compiled from news services

The Trump administration escalated what had been a war of words over California’ s immigration agenda, lawsuit late Tuesday that amounted to a pre-emptive strike against the liberal state’s so-called sanctuary laws.

The Justice Department sued California; Gov. Jerry Brown; and the state’s attorneygeneral, Xavier Becerra, over three state laws passed inrecent months, saying they made it impossible for federal immigration officials todo their jobs and deport criminals who were born outside the United States. The Justice Department called the laws unconstitutional and asked a judge to block them.

The lawsuit was the department’ s bold est attack yet against California, one of the strongest opponents of the Trump administration’ s efforts to curb immigration. It also served as a warning to Democratic lawmakers and elected officials nationwide whohave enacted sanctuary policies that provide protections for undocumented immigrants.

“The Department of Justice and the Trump administration are going to fight these unjust, unfair and unconstitutional policies that have been imposed on you,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions planned to say on Wednesdayat a law enforcement event in Sacramento, accordingto prepared remarks.

Nashville mayor resigns

Mayor Megan Barry, a one-time rising star in the Democratic Party with big plansto remake Nashville, Tenn., resigned Tuesday after pleading guilty to cheating the city out of thousands of dollars as she carried on an affairwith her bodyguard.

Barry stunned the city in late January when she confessed to an extramarital relationshipwith the former head of her security detail.

Barry and her former bodyguard, police Sgt. Robert Forrest, separately pleaded guilty to felony theft. Barry’s resignation was part of a plea bargain with prosecutors. She and Forrest were sentenced to three years’ probation.

Barry also agreed to reimburse the city $11,000, while Forrest will return $45,000 thatwas paid to him in salary or over time when he was not performing his duties as security chief.

Porn star sues Trump

Pornstar Stormy Daniels sued President Donald Trumpon Tuesday, alleging that he never signed a non disclosure agreement she agreedto in exchange for $130,000.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, charges thatthe agreed-upon gag order about her “intimate” relationshipwith Mr. Trump is invalid because, while she and Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen sign edit, Mr. Trump never did.

Florida House debate

A proposal to arm some teachers and school employees proved particularly contentious Tuesday as Florida representatives debated amendments to a school safety bill.

House members spent three hours asking questions about the bill, which would put some restrictions on rifle sales, provide new mental health programs from schools and improve communication between school enforcement and state agencies.

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