California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is already making preparations in his state for the legal battles to come during President-elect Donald Trump’s second term.
In a statement on Thursday, Newsom called for a special session in the state’s legislature to bolster legal defenses against Trump. He cited Trump’s statements on abortion, electric vehicles, immigration and disaster aid as reason for calling the special session, according to Politico.
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” Newsom said, adding it will be “the first of several actions” he and lawmakers would take against Trump. The special session is expected to start early next month.
“I just called an emergency special session to help bolster our legal resources and protect our state against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration,” Newsom wrote in a post on X. “Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate action — we refuse to turn back the clock and allow our values and laws to be attacked.”
During Trump’s first-term in office, California filed over 120 lawsuits against the White House over their policies on immigration, gun control, and health care.
Newsom’s proclamation specifically calls for the special session to authorize more funding for Attorney General Rob Bonta and state agencies to combat Trump’s actions.
The proclamation also extends beyond Trump’s statements to include “statements and policy papers issued by individuals close to his campaign and by Republican congressional leadership,” according to Politico.
