Democrats explore suing Trump if he ignores Congress on Iran war

Democrats in Congress are exploring a lawsuit against President Donald Trump if he continues the war in Iran beyond Friday’s legal deadline without obtaining congressional authorization, multiple sources familiar with the matter tell TIME, setting up a potential constitutional clash over presidential war powers as Congress prepares for another vote this week.
The internal discussions, which have not been previously reported, were described by lawmakers as still in the early stages but could intensify in the coming weeks if the President presses ahead with military operations after a critical 60-day deadline expires on May 1.

The U.S. military campaign, which began on Feb. 28, will reach the 60-day mark on April 29, but Trump has until May 1 to seek congressional approval to continue operations in Iran since he formally notified Congress of the strikes on March 2, when the 60-day clock is triggered. A handful of Republicans previously told TIME that May 1 was a pivotal turning point that the President and Republican leadership needed to take seriously.

Sen. Adam Schiff of California, an attorney and member of the Judiciary Committee, says he plans to force another War Powers Resolution vote at the end of this week, timing it to coincide with the 60-day mark. “Republicans who have been saying that mark is important to them, they'll have an opportunity to demonstrate that in the vote on resolution,” he says.

Many Democrats also insisted that Trump was already in violation of the law because he launched strikes before consulting Congress, and that legal action could be taken regardless of the looming deadline. “The 60 days actually means no difference in this circumstance, because the war was done illegally,” says Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey. “It’s as illegal on day 60 as it was on day one.”