DOJ sues Maryland over officer face-covering rules

The U.S. Department of Justice has sued Maryland and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, asking a federal court to block enforcement of restrictions on face coverings and identification for law enforcement officers as they apply to federal agents. The lawsuit, filed October 1 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, names the state, Attorney General Anthony Brown, the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission and both counties as defendants. The complaint challenges Maryland Senate Bill 1, which took effect October 1, and related county measures. The laws restrict officers from wearing face coverings while carrying out official duties and require visible identification, with some requirements for officers to identify themselves verbally. The reports describe exceptions, including undercover operations, but do not establish the full scope of each provision or how the state and county rules differ. The Justice Department argues that the restrictions unconstitutionally regulate federal operations, which it says state and local governments lack authority to control.