AG showdown: DC attorney general rejects US Attorney General Pam Bondi order as 'unlawful'

In her order, Bondi declared that police leadership "must receive approval from Commissioner Cole before issuing any further directives to the MPD."

Bondi rescinded an executive order that was just issued on Thursday by the police chief. 

She also suspended parts of two general orders "until further notice," and directed the MPD "to enforce, to the maximum extent permissible by law, section 22-1307, District of Columbia Code, and all District of Columbia municipal regulations pertaining to the unlawful occupancy of public spaces."

But in the letter to the D.C. police chief, Schwalb asserted that Section 740 of the Home Rule Act "does not authorize the President, or his delegee, to remove or replace the Chief of Police; to alter the chain of command within MPD; to demand services directly from you, MPD, or anyone other than the Mayor; to rescind or suspend MPD orders or directives; or to set the general enforcement priorities of MPD or otherwise determine how the District pursues purely local law enforcement. 

"The Bondi Order is, therefore, ultra vires," he declared.

Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman contributed to this report