Maine’s Governor Janet Mills, a Democrat, responded to the Department of Justice (DOJ) announcement regarding her state’s lawsuit against transgender athletes on Wednesday, stating that it seeks to “pressure Maine, disregard the constitution and neglect the rule of law.”
“The debate has never been centered on school athletics or the safety of women and girls. As suggested, it is about upholding state rights and the rule of law against the federal government’s imposition of its will rather than adhering to legal frameworks,” Mills remarked. expressed in a statement on the Maine government site.
The Trump administration announced a civil lawsuit on Wednesday targeting the Maine Department of Education for allegedly breaching Title IX, a federal law aimed at preventing discrimination based on sex, claiming that transgender students would engage in sports designated for girls and women in educational institutions.
“We have tried all alternative solutions,” Attorney General Pam Bondy stated on Wednesday. “We would prefer not to be here filing a lawsuit.”
Maine has recently emerged as a focal point in the national discussion concerning transgender rights. Mills and President Trump confronted the issue during a National Governors Association meeting held at the White House regarding Transgender People in Sports in February.
“Throughout my career as district attorney, attorney general, and now governor, I have tirelessly advocated for the rights of women and girls, the welfare and happiness of children and families, and for the state of Maine and the U.S. Constitution,” Mills declared in a statement on Wednesday. “My administration, along with Maine’s Attorney General, will vigorously defend our state against the lawsuit put forth today by the Department of Justice.”
“As I’ve mentioned before, this extends beyond who is eligible to play in athletics; it questions whether the president can impose his will while disregarding the rule of law that governs our nation.”
Oka reached out to the Department of Justice for a response.
