Attorneys General Highlight High Success Rate of Anti-Trump Lawsuits

California's Litigation Strategy Yields Massive Returns

California’s aggressive legal strategy has led to the state retaining $168 billion in federal funds, according to Attorney General Rob Bonta. This figure was revealed during a virtual press conference where Bonta announced California’s 50th lawsuit this year against the Trump administration. The litigation effort has proven highly effective, with Bonta noting that for every dollar spent on legal action, the state recovers $33,000—a return that would make even Wall Street investors envious.

The press conference also featured Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who mentioned that Colorado has filed its 47th lawsuit against the federal government. Bonta, Weiser, and Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown are leading a coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general, including Pennsylvania, in a new suit targeting the Trump administration. The primary goal of the lawsuit is to unfreeze federal funding allocated for electric vehicle charging infrastructure under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Bonta emphasized that states were promised this funding by Congress, and the Trump administration’s refusal to release it constitutes a violation of the law. During a Q&A session with reporters, The Center Square asked about various topics, including education, a settlement with car manufacturers, and the growing number of lawsuits against the Trump administration.

A Commitment to Legal Action

When asked about the number of hours his staff has spent on the 50 lawsuits against the Trump administration, Bonta admitted he didn’t have an exact figure. However, he stressed that the state only sues when the administration breaks the law. “We won’t sue if he follows the law. Every time he breaks the law, he hurts our people, and we’re going to sue him. That’s our duty,” Bonta said.

The White House responded to the increasing number of lawsuits, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson criticizing the efforts of left-wing politicians. She stated, “Instead of filing frivolous lawsuits against the Trump administration, left-wing politicians should focus on themselves and the problems they’ve created for millions of patriotic Americans.”

Bonta noted that California has won 80% of its lawsuits against the Trump administration, highlighting the significant financial returns. “The returns on investment are orders of magnitude larger than the investment,” he said. “For a modest investment of attorneys who know the law and can gather and prepare the facets, we are literally securing billions of dollars.”

Expanding the Coalition

Bonta pointed out that the success of California and Colorado is part of a broader trend among the 23 states in the Democratic coalition. He emphasized that the litigation against the Trump administration does not detract from other important work being done by his office. “Absolutely not,” Bonta said. “This is all additive, in addition to, on top of the work we always do. We continue to do the steady, important work of our office.”

His office remains focused on protecting civil rights, consumer and worker rights, promoting housing, gun safety, and addressing the climate crisis. Bonta noted that the additional funds from the Trump litigation have helped support these efforts.

During the press conference, Bonta revealed that his office spent $5 million of the $25 million allocated by the Legislature during last fall’s special session for potential litigation against Trump. Additional funds were later received, though the exact amount was not specified.

Colorado’s Success Story

Weiser shared Colorado’s own success story, noting that the state has secured over $1 billion in federal funds through its litigation against the Trump administration. He added that this was achieved with just three additional full-time equivalents (FTEs). “Colorado faced all sorts of threats to our funding, and we’ve been able to secure it, get access to it in face of illegal restrictions,” Weiser said.

He highlighted the impact of these efforts, mentioning that some public health officials have kept their jobs thanks to the litigation. Weiser also criticized the Trump administration’s actions, calling them “egregious” and noting that the behavior has worsened compared to the first term.

Settling with Car Manufacturers

In another matter, Bonta provided details on a settlement involving Kia America and Hyundai Motor Co. Thirty-five states, including California and Colorado, sued the companies for allegedly lacking anti-theft technology in their vehicles. Under the settlement, all future cars made by Kia and Hyundai in the U.S. will include appropriate anti-theft technology. Additionally, $4.5 million in restitution will be provided to drivers whose vehicles were damaged by thieves.

The settlement also includes $4.5 million for the states to cover investigation costs. Furthermore, the companies have agreed to offer free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors to eligible vehicle owners or lessees, including those previously eligible only for software updates. More information is available at www.HKMultistateimmobilizersettlement.com.

Opposing Data Collection Requirements

Finally, Bonta addressed the efforts of Democratic attorneys general to oppose federal requirements for data collection on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at colleges and universities. He argued that such requirements are an unnecessary intrusion into the privacy of Californians. “They’re not enforcing civil rights,” Bonta said. “Their vision of civil rights is to undermine civil rights protection, to try to dismantle the key provisions that promote the civil rights of the American people.”