Loophole in law governing American military use on U.S. soil raises concerns

[Elderberry]

Military Times by Leo Shane III 7/1/2020

 Following vows from President Donald Trump last month to use active-duty troops to help enforce order in American cities, a Democratic senator wants lawmakers to close a loophole in federal law allowing such actions without congressional approval.

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense panel, on Wednesday will offer an amendment to the pending defense authorization bill to make the Posse Comitatus Act apply to all military troops, regardless of their activation orders.

“The American military should not be the president’s tool to enforce his dangerous political agenda against his own citizens,” Udall told Military Times. “Congress must work to prevent any scenario in which our military, an institution sworn to protect and uphold our Constitution and freedom, is instead used as a weapon to suppress Americans’ First Amendment rights.”

Whether the proposal gets serious legislative consideration remains unclear. Republican Senate leaders have not clarified which if any amendments will be debated and voted on by the full chamber in coming days.

More: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/07/01/loophole-in-law-governing-american-military-use-on-us-soil-raises-concerns/

[Chosen Daughter]

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense panel, on Wednesday will offer an amendment to the pending defense authorization bill to make the Posse Comitatus Act apply to all military troops, regardless of their activation orders.

“The American military should not be the president’s tool to enforce his dangerous political agenda against his own citizens,” Udall told Military Times. “Congress must work to prevent any scenario in which our military, an institution sworn to protect and uphold our Constitution and freedom, is instead used as a weapon to suppress Americans’ First Amendment rights.”


Yes, we hear the Democratic argument even among the Republicans these days.  I would beware of Marc Esper.

[rangerrebew]

Loophole in law governing American military use on U.S. soil raises concerns
Leo Shane III
 

Following vows from President Donald Trump last month to use active-duty troops to help enforce order in American cities, a Democratic senator wants lawmakers to close a loophole in federal law allowing such actions without congressional approval.

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense panel, on Wednesday will offer an amendment to the pending defense authorization bill to make the Posse Comitatus Act apply to all military troops, regardless of their activation orders.

“The American military should not be the president’s tool to enforce his dangerous political agenda against his own citizens,” Udall told Military Times. “Congress must work to prevent any scenario in which our military, an institution sworn to protect and uphold our Constitution and freedom, is instead used as a weapon to suppress Americans’ First Amendment rights.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/07/01/loophole-in-law-governing-american-military-use-on-us-soil-raises-concerns/

[PeteS in CA]

The Insurrection Act is not a "loophole", it's a law passed by Congress and signed into law by the President of the time, Thomas Jefferson. It does have a history of inconveniencing Democrats, since it has been used on a couple of occasions in the dismantling of Jim-Crow-type segregation.