North Carolina sues federal government over bathroom law

Officials in North Carolina on Monday filed a lawsuit against the federal government in an effort to keep the state’s controversial bathroom law in place, according to multiple reports.

The lawsuit comes after the Department of Justice (DOJ) told Gov. Pat McCrory (R) that the state’s law — which requires transgender people to use the bathroom corresponding to their biological sex — violates the Civil Rights Act. The DOJ ordered McCrory to respond by Monday to confirm “that the State will not comply with or implement HB2.”

{mosads}North Carolina’s lawsuit against the federal government said the DOJ’s position is “baseless and blatant overreach,” NBC News reported.

“If the United States desires a new protected class under Title VII, it must seek such action by the United States Congress,” the suit said.

McCrory said Sunday that the state was given an “unrealistic” deadline for response, adding that the federal government is “being a bully.”

“They gave the ninth-largest state in the United States … three working days to respond to a pretty complex letter and to a pretty big threat,” McCrory said on “Fox News Sunday.”

“We don’t think three working days is enough to respond to such a threat.” 

The North Carolina law, condemned by LGBT rights supporters, also has provisions restricting local governments from enacting their own anti-discrimination legislation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The DOJ announced that Attorney General Loretta Lynch will announce a “law enforcement action” connected to the state later Monday afternoon.

–This report was updated at 12:09 p.m.