Michael H. Simon, who is married to Oregon Democrat Suzanne Bonamici, has chosen to step back from a case concerning a legal challenge against the Trump administration’s call for federal forces. Simon, appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Oregon District by President Barack Obama, has been involved in lawsuits filed by Oregon and Portland against President Donald Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegses, and others from the Department of Homeland Security.
A recent court filing suggested Simon should recuse himself, citing the strong opposition to his wife’s administration and emphasizing that “the court must consider whether the public can reasonably question Justice Simon’s impartiality.” In light of that, he decided to withdraw from the case.
Meanwhile, President Trump publicly addressed the deployment of National Guard troops to Portland, claiming he did so at the request of Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem. In a post dated September 27, he noted the need for troops to protect “war-torn Portland” and certain Ice facilities amid unrest, which he attributed to Antifa and domestic terrorists.
On September 28, it was reported that War Secretary Hegses had approved the immediate call-up of 200 Oregon National Guard members for a 60-day period.
In response to these developments, Senator Bonamici expressed her strong disapproval. She took to social media on September 27 to accuse the president of lying. During a press conference, she called his actions a “severe abuse of power” and insisted he lacked the authority to send troops to the city.
Bonamici, along with other Oregon Democrats, signed a letter on the same day condemning the move as a misuse of administrative authority that incites violence and undermines the constitutional balance between federal and state powers.
