(The Center Square) – Over the past year, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has regularly joined other attorneys general in taking numerous legal actions against the Trump administration and its policies.
The majority of those attorney generals have been Democrats, as is Nessel.
Just in the past week, Nessel joined a coalition suing over the defunding of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, another suing over the elimination of transgender procedures in minors, and led a coalition that filed an amicus brief in hopes of maintaining invasive species protections in the Great Lakes.
“The Trump administration has shown time and again a disregard for the rule of law and for the safety of the people they are meant to serve,” Nessel said recently.
Since the Trump Administration took office in January, Nessel has joined or filed 41 different lawsuits. This is according to its Federal Actions Tracker.
In a number of those lawsuits, either preliminary injunctions or temporary restraining orders have been issued, coming as a win for Nessel and the other states joined on the lawsuits.
Just last week, Michigan secured a legal order from the United States District Court from the District of Oregon blocking the Trump administration from imposing terms on Federal Emergency Management Agency grants it deemed “illegal.”
The Michigan Department of Attorney General personally litigated the case before that court in early December, as it has with many others.
“Assistant Attorney General Neil Giovanatti personally argued this case before the court, and his professionalism, skill, and dedication were instrumental to this outcome,” Nessel said. “I am proud of his work and the work my office does every day to protect the rights of Michiganders and the critical resources they depend on.”
Aside from officially joining dozens of lawsuits, the Michigan Attorney General’s office has also supported many via amicus briefs.
In the 339 days since President Donald Trump took office, Nessel has signed onto more than 50 different amicus briefs. Nessel’s office applauded these actions, which it said recouped or preserved more than $2 billion in federal funding for Michigan.
Nessel is Michigan’s first Democrat attorney general since 2002.
Supporters of her actions argue that Nessel is “standing up for Michigan taxpayers.” In contrast, Michigan Republicans accuse her of “virtue signaling” using the state’s tax dollars.
