Democrats sue GOP county executive over armed volunteer unit they say amounts to an illegal militia

Democrats in suburban New York are suing a Republican county executive over his creation of an armed unit of volunteer residents. They say it amounts to an “illegal, taxpayer-funded civilian militia.” Nassau County Democratic lawmakers argue in their complaint filed Wednesday that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman lacked the legal authority to form a cadre of special sheriff’s deputies last year. They say state law only authorizes local sheriffs to deputize trained law enforcement officers from other agencies in emergencies. Blakeman dismissed the suit as “frivolous.” He’s said the deputies would only be called on during natural disasters and other major emergencies.