1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

Assault on State Sovereignty (Belligerent Occupation) Donald J. Trump and Peter B. Hegseth’s use of National Guard forces, and Kristi Noem’s use of federal paramilitary forces like ICE across state lines and against gubernatorial consent creates a threat to sovereignty sufficiently grave to merit consideration as an additional meaning for treasonous levying of war against these United States. On October 5th, Peter B Hegseth invoked 10 U.S.C § 12406 to federalize and bring under Department of Defense control up to 400 National Guard from the State of Texas to deploy into Chicago. Governor Pritzker, executive leader of the sovereign state of Illinois, has recognized that Donald J Trump and Peter B Hegseth’s deployment of Texas National Guard troops into Illinois territory against his government’s consent is, in his own words, an “invasion”. In response to the murder of Renee Nicole Good by federal paramilitary forces, Governor Walz of Minnesota has put the Minnesota National Guard on alert. The UN General Assembly, reflecting the consensus of the international community, understands any military occupation resulting from an invasion by the armed forces of one State into the territory of another State is understood as an act of aggression, regardless of a declaration of war. By forcibly deploying the National Guard from one state (Texas and California) into the sovereign territory of other states (Illinois and Oregon), and deploying heavily-armed paramilitary forces such as ICE over the objections of the officials tasked with maintaining law and order by the Constitution, Donald J. Trump, Peter B. Hegseth, Secretary of Defense, and Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security have violated the sovereignty of states of the Union and violated the principle of equality among sovereign states of the Union (by allowing one state to exercise authority of the territory of another and invading states with federal forces), thus destabilizing the Union itself. Donald J. Trump and Peter B. Hegseth have further pursued this military occupation without colorable legal authority, disregarding court injunctions and attempting to circumvent the courts entirely to pursue their forcible federalization and deployment of the National Guard from one state into the sovereign territory of another state against that state’s consent. Donald J. Trump and Peter B. Hegseth have also disavowed colorable legal authority by confessing to US generals under their command on September 30, 2025 that they themselves understand their actions amount to war. Donald J. Trump further responded to efforts by Congress to reaffirm the military’s commitment to the Constitution, referencing the oath of office that military members, members of Congress, and the President himself all swear, and reminding military members that they must refuse illegal orders in accordance with U.S. and international law, with threats encouraging violence seeking to intimidate and coerce the Representatives and Senators in Congress. Treason Warrants Impeachment and Removal Among the grievances against King George III in the Declaration of Independence is the following charge: “He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.” The same can now be said of Donald J. Trump, Peter B. Hegseth, and Kristi Noem. Furthermore, Abraham Lincoln’s prescient words from 1858 echo to the present: a house divided against itself cannot stand. The actions of the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security constitute the levying of war against the United States. The actions of the President, the Secretary of Defense,and the Secretary of Homeland Security constitute Treason. In summary, Donald J. Trump, Peter B. Hegseth, and Kristi Noem have committed an overt act of Treason by levying war against the United States with both paramilitary and military forces, in plain view of Congress and the public. They have sought to jeopardize the union of these United States by setting the States against one another and against the federal government in pursuit of absolute, unchecked, despotic power. They have demonstrated, repeatedly, that they will remain a threat to the American people, democracy, the Constitution and these United States if allowed to remain in office. Donald J. Trump, Peter B. Hegseth, and Kristi Noem have betrayed their respective trusts as President of the United States, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of Homeland Security, abused the power of their offices, violated the sovereignty of the States and the system of constitutional federalism, sought to provoke and escalate civil disorder, and imperiled the most fundamental principles of civil-military relations in the United States. Wherefore, by such conduct Donald J. Trump, Peter B. Hegseth, and Kristi Noem have committed Treason by levying war against the United States, they thus warrant impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.