SALEM, Ore. — After a request from the Trump administration, the original federal judge assigned to hear Oregon's lawsuit fighting the legality of the president's National Guard mobilization in Portland has now recused himself, according to court filings.

Judge Michael H. Simon, originally assigned to the case, is the husband of Democratic Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. Simon was appointed to the U.S. District Court by Barack Obama in 2011.

In his order Thursday, Simon said that he did not believe a "recusal is required" under federal law or the code of conduct for federal judges, but he decided to do it anyway so as not to distract from the issues at hand.

"Because it is necessary that the focus of this lawsuit remain on the critically important constitutional and statutory issues p

See Full Page