Thread: Trump & complicit Republicans are clearly trying to politicize rule of law by attacking the FBI, DoJ, and Mueller. That strategy has three main possible aims. All of them are destructive to democracy. Could also be all of the above.
1. Try to fire Mueller. Cornyn, the #2 Republican Senator, has implied that Americans would tolerate Mueller getting fired. More all calling for it. Doing so would cross a red line between democracy and authoritarianism.
2. Pardon Flynn & Manafort/Gates as a signal to others not to cooperate with Mueller. This would be an egregious abuse of power and obstruction of justice. Trump floated the idea of pardons yesterday to test possible backlash.
3. Try to discredit the eventual Mueller report, which they know will be extremely damning. Deflect with Whataboutism and try to brand a highly respected Republican hero who was appointed by a Republican as a Democrat on a “witch hunt.” (Has already happened; and will continue).
If any Republicans in Congress care about democracy, they must stand up to this dangerous politicization of rule of law. For democracy to die and authoritarianism to take its place, rule of law must become partisan. That is rapidly happening, by design, under Trump & GOP rule.
If either of the first two scenarios occur, they must be met *immediately* with spontaneous mass protests in all US cities, not just a deluge of phone calls and mail. If Republicans in Congress won’t protect democracy, we must make clear that citizens will.
