WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday sued the state of Virginia over what it described as the state’s “unconstitutional attempt to regulate” federal agents by banning masks for law enforcement.
• The department alleges that Virginia’s ban threatens the safety of federal officers.
• “Virginia’s anti-law enforcement policies regulate the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents. These laws cannot stand,” acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.
• Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones said his office is reviewing the lawsuit.
• The bill restricting law enforcement from wearing facial coverings was signed into law by the state’s governor, Abigail Spanberger, last month.
• Other states, including California and New York, have also moved to impose similar restrictions.
(Reporting by Jasper Ward in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese and Jacqueline Wong)
