Barnes Testifies Before U.S. Senate, Announces D.C. Statehood Lawsuit
Attorney Johnny Barnes submitted testimony for the Hearing conducted by Senator Carper on 15 September. The testimony provides insight into what may be the basis for a federal lawsuit to be announced on Saturday, 27 September 2014. As part of the lawsuit, Plaintiffs may seek to block the F.B.I. from moving out of Washington, D.C. “There is legal and Constitutional authority, I believe, that can prevent the F.B.I. or any other federal agency from leaving the District of Columbia, unless we are granted Equal Footing with all other Americans,” said Attorney Barnes.
The lawsuit was announced on 27 September, at 11:30 a.m. at the close of the Tenth Annual D.C. Statehood Summit sponsored by Living with the Law, taking place at 525 New Jersey Avenue, N.W.
On 21 July 2014, President Barack Obama publicly announced his support. Earlier Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made a glowing statement in support. And on 12 September 2014, Supreme Court Justice Ginsberg stated, "D.C. is not a state - sadly in my view." There are now107 Co-Sponsors in the House --- more than at any time in history --- and 20 Senate Co-Sponsors of the D.C. Statehood Admissions Act.
“While Republicans have yet to embrace our effort to become a state, we believe the lawsuit will spur them along,” concluded Barnes. Barnes served as a key staff person for Congress over 25 years and drafted the first modern day D.C. Statehood Bill, H.R. 51, while in that role. He has written two law review articles on the subject as well as a 250 page article that he says “debunks” all myths about D.C. Statehood. The First Draft of the Lawsuit pleadings and his Senate Testimony is annexed.
