These Signs Referred to the Iconic One Liner of Governor Janet T. Mills (D) with Convicted Felon Trump at the White House Earlier This Year.  The Signs Were Displayed in the HandsOff! Protest Over the Weekend in Monument Square, in Portland.

Attorney General Aaron M. Frey filed a Complaint today in federal court in Maine against the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for withholidng funding used to feed children in schools, childcare centers and after-school programming as well as disabled adults in congregate settings.

The Complaint follows a letter received by the State on April 2nd from Secretary Rollins announcing the freeze because of the State’s alleged violation of the Title 1X in educational programming.  In the letter, the Secretary threatened “this is only the beginning.”  Secretary Rollins stated in her letter that the freeze would not impact programs  providing food to children.   Howover on April 3, the Child Nutrition Program of the Maine Department of Education was unable to access several sources of federal funding, all of which are necessary to fund children and vulnerable adults.

“Under the banner of keeping children safe, the Trump administration is illegally withholding grant funds that go to keeping children fed,” said Attorney General Frey.  “This is just another example where no law or consequence appears to restrain the administration as it seeks capitulation to its lawlessness.  The President and his cabinet secretaries do not make the law and they are not above the law, and this action is necessary to remind the President that Maine will not be bullied into violating the law.”

In the Complaint, AG Frey states that the freeze was unlawful, following no legally required procedure to alter the Congressionally appropriated funds, including the USDA’s own regulations which requires a hearing and a formal decision on the record before funds can be terminated.   The AG is also seeking a temporary restraining order preventing the USDA from wthholding funds while the Court hears the matter.