Tong: Lawsuit ‘imminent after Trump declares national emergency

HARTFORD — Connecticut Attorney General William Tong on Saturday said he was coordinating with other states to investigate possible action against the Trump administration’s declaration of a national emergency.

On Friday, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency to appropriate funds for a wall a the United States’ southern border with Mexico.

“The president has launched an unconstitutional end-run around the legislative process in order to fulfill a misguided campaign promise motivated by racism and hate. Connecticut will not stand silent,” Tong said in a statement.

According to an email from spokeswoman Elizabeth Benton, Tong announced the legal action was “imminent” at the news conference on Saturday. In video footage of the news conference captured by WTNH, Tong expressed concern that appropriation of funds for a border wall could take away money pledged to projects across Connecticut.

In a tweet on Thursday, Tong warned Trump, “Please don’t do this. A baseless declaration of a national emergency would be a direct assault on the rule of law. If you want to start a constitutional crisis, this is how you do it.”

Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said he plans to sue Trump over the emergency declaration.