A lawyer has agreed to take on House Speaker John Boehner‘s lawsuit against President Barack Obama.
George Washington University legal scholar Jonathan Turley agreed to represent Boehner and House Republicans in their possible future legal action against the president, NBC News’ Mark Murray reported Tuesday afternoon. Turley is a frequent commentator on MSNBC and other news networks.
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“I have agreed to represent the United States House of Representatives in its challenge of unilateral, unconstitutional actions taken by the Obama Administration with respect to implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA),” Turley wrote in a blog post. “It is an honor to represent the institution in this historic lawsuit and to work with the talented staff of the House General Counsel’s Office.”
In July, House Republicans voted to authorize a lawsuit against the commander-in-chief for his use of executive actions. Members approved the legislation that accused Obama of exceeding his constitutional authority by altering how he implemented the ACA, his signature health care law. Both parties attempted to use the suit to motivate voters ahead of this month’s midterm elections.
No Democrats voted for the bill. They also noted that while the Republicans were occupied with making plans to take the president to court, the GOP approved virtually no substantive legislation.
Obama previously called the Republicans’ move “a political stunt” that wastes taxpayers’ dollars and time. A series of appeals could drag the case out for several years, and possibly even extend beyond Obama’s term in office.
Other attorneys reportedly declined to represent the House Republicans as a result of political pressure at their law firms.
Michele Richinick