Pam Bondi says Trump 'absolutely' has authority to invoke Insurrection Act to curb Chicago crime

Attorney General Pam Bondi insisted President Donald Trump absolutely has the authority to invoke the Insurrection Act to address crime in Democratic-led cities such as Chicago while criticizing Illinois Gov JB Pritzker Tuesday for rejecting federal assistance Pritzker should be begging Donald Trump to come in Bondi stated during an appearance on Hannity We have Memphis Mayor Paul Young working with us He's amazing He's a Democrat He wants to make Memphis safe look at how safe D C is now because of Muriel Bowser working with Donald Trump Metro police Transit Authority police are working with all of our federal agents hand-in-hand and our National Guard Pritzker's lost his mind BONDI CLASHES WITH DURBIN ON NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT 'LOVE CHICAGO AS MUCH AS YOU HATE PRESIDENT TRUMP'Bondi s remarks come after the Democratic governor s repeated pushback against federal intervention efforts even as other Democratic city authorities cooperate with the administration Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also a Democrat has resisted federal intervention as well Bondi posted on X that arrests have been made in Washington D C with illegal guns seized TRUMP ESCALATES FIGHT WITH PRITZKER AS BLOODY CHICAGO WEEKEND SPARKS TROOP WARNINGAt the same time arrests were made and illegal guns were seized in Memphis The discussion follows court rulings that restricted National Guard deployments prompting Trump to consider invoking the Insurrection Act a law that authorizes the president to deploy active-duty military or federalized National Guard forces within the country under limited circumstances such as to suppress civil disorder rebellion or obstruction of federal law It has been invoked about times by roughly presidents greater part lately by George H W Bush during the Los Angeles riots Bondi noted Trump absolutely has the authority to invoke the act but pointed to previous law enforcement successes including this year s anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles where she noted the act was not necessary Despite raising the possibility Trump notified reporters Monday that he didn t have to go there yet because his administration is winning on appeal Fox News' Michael Dorgan contributed to this record