15 US states sue over President Donald Trump’s executive order

San Francisco: A coalition of 15 US states is filing a new lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring a “national energy emergency,” which aims to accelerate fossil fuel development.

Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown announced the legal action on Friday during a press briefing. The 61-page complaint was submitted to the US District Court for the Western District of Washington.

According to the lawsuit, Trump’s order violates the National Emergencies Act of 1976, which was designed to ensure that presidents use their emergency powers “only when actual emergencies exist” and not for “frivolous or partisan matters.”

“Prodded onto the shakiest of limbs by the President’s unsupported and unlawful Executive Order, multiple federal agencies now seek to broadly employ these emergency procedures in non-emergency situations,” the lawsuit said.

Brown criticised Trump’s emergency declaration as “fake,” as US energy production is at an all-time high level, reports Xinhua news agency.  (IANS)

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