Los Angeles dismisses Trump administration warning over ‘unlawful’ lockdown

The mayor of Los Angeles on Friday dismissed a Trump administration warning that the city's continued lockdown due to coronavirus could be illegal, saying he would not be "pushed by politics."

Eric Garcetti, the Democratic leader of the United States' second-largest city, was sent a letter earlier Friday by federal authorities that said long-term restrictions "may be both arbitrary and unlawful."

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"We are not guided by politics in this — we are guided by science, we are guided by collaboration," said Garcetti when asked about the missive at a press conference.

"There's no games, there's nothing else going on. And that's the way we're going to continue to safely open," he added.

In this file photo the US Capitol is seen in Washington, DC. File/AFP

Los Angeles has begun to reopen facilities from beaches and golf courses to restaurants and retail businesses offering curbside pick-up services, but lags behind other parts of California.

Densely-populated Los Angeles county has suffered more than 43,000 confirmed cases, with 2,049 deaths — well over half of the state's fatalities.

Widely reported comments from a county health official last week that restrictions could last another three months drew the Trump administration's ire.

"We remain concerned about what may be an arbitrary and heavy-handed approach to continuing stay-at-home requirements," the Department of Justice letter said.

"The Constitution and federal statutory law prohibit arbitrary, unreasonable actions," it added.

A woman holds a sign during an anti-Trump protest in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. File/AFP

President Donald Trump, with an eye on his re-election prospects in November, has pressed for a further reopening of the United States as job losses mount from coronavirus shutdowns.

Trump earlier Friday demanded state governors allow places of worship to reopen immediately.

Los Angeles and California were among the first in the nation to impose stay-at-home orders, in March.

"Let's not wait one day, longer than we have to. At the same time, let's not be pushed by politics or some other reasons to go one day earlier than is safe," said Garcetti.

"Because people's lives are at stake."

Agence France-Presse