How Trump’s made-up emergencies could subvert the midterm elections 

America’s law libraries will be filled one day with volumes on how President Trump abused his office. By then, we will know whether his violations of norms, laws and the Constitution became precedents for future presidents, or whether voters, courts and Congress acted to stop them before the damage was irreparable.

It is already severe. Trump’s Justice Department spends more time dispensing retribution than justice. His pardons have unleashed violent criminals on society. He punishes Democratic states by withholding appropriated funds. He and his family have leveraged the presidency to accumulate billions of dollars in personal wealth.

Trump has bullied and alienated America’s vital allies. He has misused the world’s most powerful military. And he suppresses the fundamental rights of critics and protestors. The list goes on. 

But another abuse receives too little attention. He expands his powers by declaring national emergencies that don’t exist. And there are signs that he and his supporters will do this to subvert the midterm election.

Here is the background: Congress, courts and presidents themselves have defined emergency situations in which the chief executive can use extraordinary powers to address crises. They assume the powers immediately, without needing further authorization from Congress or the courts. But Trump is the Chicken Little of presidents, claiming frequently that the sky is falling so that he can invoke new authorities.

Presidents define their extraordinary powers with presidential emergency action documents. These are prepared in advance........

© The Hill