With @ForTheRuleOfLaw, we released a new video calling out @realDonaldTrump ’s shell game to avoid accountability. #SCOTUS is hearing arguments tomorrow in the Vance, Mazars, & Deutsche Bank cases - it must reject Trump’s royal immunity claims.
In court, @realDonaldTrump claims he can only be held accountable by Congress. But then he stonewalls congressional requests for documents & testimony, saying Congress must go to court. Now he’s telling SCOTUS he can stop criminal investigations. NO! protectdemocracy.org/project/presid…
Today’s video is part of our ongoing effort to shine a light on the Trump Administration's lawless claims to limitless authority and blanket immunity from oversight or accountability. #NoOneisAbovetheLaw Read more on our work protectdemocracy.org/project/presid…
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BREAKING: Despite clear facts and law, SCOTUS overturned two carefully reasoned federal court rulings in our lawsuit challenging Virginia’s illegal voter-purge program w/o explaining their decision. Bottom line: We know this program removes eligible voters.
The facts here remain simple: Virginia is keeping eligible citizens from voting by chasing conspiracy theories to score political points — a blatant attempt to deceive the American public and undermine confidence in our safe and secure elections.
Virginia has not presented any evidence of noncitizens participating in elections. Because there is none. AND it’s actually eligible VA voters that have been caught in the middle of this election-subversion scheme.
BREAKING: Federal jury finds "Trump Train" ringleader liable for committing acts of political intimidation in violation of state & federal law. This victory for our clients also reaffirms that all citizens are protected against politically motivated threats, intimidation & force.
This verdict is especially significant in today’s climate of heightened political tension. It sends a strong signal to all Americans that justice will be swift for anyone who engages in acts of political violence in this upcoming election or any election hereafter.
Background reading:
1️⃣@Richard_Primus for @lawfare on the significance of the Klan Act
2️⃣Curtain-opener by @McGeeReports for @TexasTribune
Today 19 retired 4-star officers & service secretaries urged #SCOTUS to reject Trump’s immunity claim, citing the disastrous impact presidential criminal immunity would wreak on the chain of command, civilian control of the military, & national security. protdem.org/NatSecAmicus4_…
The Constitution enshrines rule of law & civilian control of the military, “bedrock features of our democracy & are deeply rooted in our nation’s history,” and…[Trump’s] theory of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution is an assault on these foundational commitments.”
Retired General George Casey, one of the signatories had this to say:
Here are the six major threats that we can expect from an authoritarian president occupying the White House in 2025
(plus, threaded below for more ⬇️🧵)
1⃣ Pardons to license lawbreaking: As president Trump was a pioneer in pardon abuse and has promised to further abuse that power to reward violent actors and place himself above the law
Trump, the likely R nominee for POTUS, has promised to enact policies threatening core democratic institutions.
In a new report, our experts analyze whether & how those promises might override the checks designed to constrain POTUS abuses of power. authoritarianplaybook2025.org
The report, written by a cross-ideological team of experts, thoroughly compiles Trump’s stated plans and tackles the question: Is our system of checks & balances robust enough to constrain an autocrat in the White House?
It focuses on 6 threat areas 🧵⬇️
1⃣ Pardons to license lawbreaking:
During Trump’s 1st term, he used pardons to induce witnesses against him into silence. In a 2nd term, he's indicated to further abuse pardons to incite political violence, incentivize lawbreaking for his benefit, & place himself above the law.
BREAKING: The city of San Marcos and its police dept have agreed to settle our case alleging they turned a blind eye to the so-called “Trump Train” engaging in political violence against passengers on the Biden-Harris bus in lead-up to the 2020 election. protectdemocracy.org/work/san-marco…
In settling this case, the City on behalf of the police department has admitted to falling short of its policing standards and has agreed to institute mandatory training for all its officers and to compensate the victims they failed to protect.
🔗 ➡️ protdem.org/4054mJN
In filing this case, the victims claimed police violated the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871—a law that makes it illegal for law enforcement to negligently fail to take steps to prevent certain conspiracies to engage in election-related violence or intimidation. protectdemocracy.org/work/klan-act-…