Bondi announces lawsuit against Maine for refusing to ban trans athletes from girls’ sports

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The U.S. Justice Department announced a lawsuit against the state of Maine for its continued defiance of President Donald Trump’s executive order to keep biological males out of girls’ and women’s sports and violations of Title IX.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the lawsuit at a press conference on Wednesday morning. It is the latest chapter in the battle between the state and the Trump administration after a federal judge paused a funding freeze that was initiated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Bondi was joined at the press conference by conservative activist Riley Gaines and fencer Stephanie Turner, who recently drew viral attention to the issue of trans inclusion in women's fencing with a clip of her kneeling in protest of a trans opponent.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

"The Department of Justice will not sit by when women are discriminated against in sports," Bondi said at a press conference. "… What they have been through is horrific."

Fox News Digital reached out to Maine Gov. Janet Mills and Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey’s offices for comment.

"We want to get states to comply with us," Bondi added.

Bondi said they were seeking an injunction and have titles returned to the girls who "rightfully" won competitions in which trans athletes participated in.

Turner spoke about the Justice Department’s lawsuit against the state to Fox News Digital.

"It's sad that this has to be a political issue, and I think this was a missed opportunity by the Democrats to garner support among the vast majority of the United States." Turner said of