Political leaders should discourage violence and allow the case to be adjudicated as the law requires.
WASHINGTON — In response to the indictment of former president Donald J. Trump by a Manhattan grand jury, Freedom House president Michael J. Abramowitz issued the following statement:
“No one is above the law in a healthy democracy. Our leaders do not merely enforce the rule of law—they also answer to it. Holding the powerful to account for misconduct or criminal activity is vital for maintaining transparency, public trust, and effective governance. That is why the legal proceedings that have led to President Trump’s indictment must be allowed to run their course—under the supervision of an independent judiciary and without political or other outside interference. At this moment, public officials and political figures have an urgent responsibility to discourage violence and stand up for due process of law, which is a cornerstone of every free and democratic society.”
Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to create a world where all are free.
We inform the world about threats to freedom, mobilize global action, and support democracy’s defenders.