Breaking: DOJ says Trump can strike Iran, but needs Congress later

DDM News

The U.S. Department of Justice has stated that President Donald Trump acted within his constitutional powers when he ordered recent military strikes on Iran.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that a senior Justice Department official confirmed the strikes were carried out under Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which grants the president authority to act as commander in chief.

The official noted that the decision was made in consultation with the White House Counsel and senior officials from the Department of Justice.

Article II allows the president broad authority to deploy military force to protect national interests, without prior approval from Congress.

However, Article I of the Constitution reserves the power to formally declare war to Congress, raising questions about the scope of presidential military authority.

According to the DOJ official, the administration does not believe congressional approval was necessary in this instance.

The strikes, which targeted three nuclear-related sites in Iran, were characterized as a limited military action that falls short of an act of war.

The official cited legal opinions from the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel issued under both Republican and Democratic administrations as the legal basis for the operation.

These longstanding memos have consistently upheld the president’s right to engage in limited military action to protect U.S. interests without first securing congressional authorization.

The DOJ representative emphasized that should the military engagement escalate or become prolonged, the administration may have to consult Congress.

Nevertheless, the administration insists that a single operation involving airstrikes does not meet the threshold for requiring legislative approval under Article I.

The White House also maintains that President Trump acted with the backing of key figures in both the House and Senate.

According to the DOJ official, this bipartisan support reinforces the legal and political standing of the president’s actions.

A White House official separately told CNN that President Trump exercised his “legal authority as commander in chief” when he directed the strikes.

The administration has framed the operation as a necessary step to deter Iranian aggression and protect U.S. personnel and interests in the region.

Attorney General Pam Bondi is scheduled to testify before Congress on the matter.

She is expected to reaffirm that the president’s authority stems from Article II and is supported by legal precedent established in previous administrations.

Bondi will likely face questions from House members concerned about the scope of executive war powers.

Constitutional scholars and lawmakers remain divided over the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in military decision-making.

While presidents have frequently conducted limited military operations without prior congressional approval, critics argue this undermines democratic oversight.

Supporters of the Trump administration’s stance contend that swift military action is sometimes necessary to address imminent threats.

The debate comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, following months of provocations and strategic confrontations.

This latest military engagement has sparked renewed discussion in Washington about revisiting the War Powers Resolution and clarifying the limits of presidential authority.

Whether the conflict escalates or not, legal and political scrutiny over the president’s war-making powers appears set to intensify.

The Biden administration, as well as future presidents, may face similar challenges in balancing national security decisions with constitutional constraints.

As Attorney General Bondi appears before Congress, both lawmakers and the public will be watching closely to assess the administration’s legal justification.

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