Press Releases

Washington, D.C. –  On Monday, Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, joined Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, for a bicameral spotlight hearing to demand answers on the Trump Administration’s attacks on the rule of law. Rep. Balint questioned the witnesses on Trump’s attacks on the American legal system, the importance of judicial independence and the dangers of Trump’s authoritarian actions. 

“It’s important to understand that Trump’s actions – while based on his personal grievances – are not only petty, they are designed to remove the checks on unlimited power, the guardrails that protect our democracy,” said Rep. Becca Balint. 

“Trump and all his enablers in Congress seem to think laws do not apply to them. They don’t care about the Constitution, they don’t care about the rule of law, and they certainly don’t care about our rights. We need more courage like yours in order to stand up to this,” Rep. Balint concluded in her statement to the witnesses. 

“ While my GOP colleagues passively watch Trump punish his critics and take a jack hammer to the work of anti-corruption fighters at the Department of Justice, Democrats are lifting up the tough Americans who are standing strong against the corruption and lawlessness of Trump,” said Ranking Member Raskin.

Witnesses included: 

• Ryan Crosswell, Former Trial Attorney, Public Integrity Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice
• Liz Oyer, Former Pardon Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
• Rachel Cohen, Former Senior Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 
• Stacey Young, Former Senior Trial Attorney, DOJ Civil Rights Division, and Founder and Executive Director, Justice Connection

Watch Rep. Becca Balint’s full remarks here. 

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