Wed. July 14, 2010
Riverside, Calif. -
Attorneys gave opening statements on Tuesday in a legal battle over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" that actually started with a lawsuit against former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in 2004.
The Log Cabin Republicans sued Rumsfeld, claiming the anti-gay military policy was unconstitutional.
Now, with the pro-gay Obama administration in the White House, they have new ammunition: Obama himself.
Attorneys for the Log Cabin have introduced statements from President Obama about the policy, including one where he said that reversing the ban is "essential for our national security."
Meanwhile, Justice Department attorneys are in the awkward position of trying to defend a law that the current administration is trying to dismantle.
So those government attorneys are attempting to address side issues -- like whether the Log Cabin Republicans have legal standing to file the lawsuit -- to win the case.
U.S. Attorneys don't plan to offer any evidence. The trial is being heard by a judge, not a jury, and is expected to last about two weeks.
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