John –

Before the day was out, I wanted to write down some thoughts about what Donald Trump’s indictment means for our democracy and the rule of law.

And after reading the indictment, it’s clear that Special Counsel Jack Smith had no choice but to bring these charges. The decision to bring such a case was historic, but not difficult, because Trump’s blatant disregard for the law and our national security — as displayed in the indictment — could not be ignored.

Any time you have a former president and leading candidate for president who is brought up on federal charges, it’s a perilous moment. But it’s also a very important one. Because it’s an affirmation of the rule of law, that it applies equally to everyone – even a president.

The more dangerous thing than charging Donald Trump would be not charging him and letting him off the hook simply because he is rich and powerful.

So, what happens next?

Over the next few months, Trump will do what he usually does – try to delay justice through frivolous motions and lawsuits, attack his enemies, and decry the charges in the public as a witch hunt.

Trump will demand absolute fealty from MAGA Republicans in Congress, and push them to “do something” to obstruct an ongoing federal prosecution.

Kevin McCarthy and Jim Jordan are already trying to insert themselves into the case and interfere in the prosecution – by demanding documents, making broad threats, and threatening to haul in officials to disrupt the proceedings. I will be doing everything I can to resist these efforts in the Judiciary Committee.

And here’s what I have to say to Jordan and McCarthy: Donald Trump has plenty of criminal defense lawyers – that’s not your job.

Donald Trump didn’t decide one day at Mar-a-Lago that he was going to lie, cheat and steal when it came to an election or classified information. This is who he is. And justice is being served.

The words that I spoke back in 2020 during Trump’s first impeachment trial are just as true today, as they were then.

• He has betrayed our national security, and he will do so again. He has compromised our elections, and will do so again.


• You will not change him. You cannot constrain him. He is who he is. Truth matters little to him. What’s right matters even less. And decency matters not at all.


• You can't trust this president to do the right thing. Not for one minute, not for one election, not for the sake of our country. You just can't. He will not change and you know it.

Republican Senators – with the exception of Mitt Romney, who cast a very brave vote – refused to hold Trump accountable. And it had real, disastrous consequences.

It made Trump think he was above the law. And what happened? An insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Classified materials stolen and squirreled away at Mar-a-Lago. In short, he betrayed our national security – again. And compromised our elections – again.

Each time Trump hasn’t been held accountable under the law, he has grown more emboldened and brazen. That’s why this case is so important.

Our democracy will weather this latest storm. I know it will. And it will require all of us – not just those of us in elected office – to put our duty to the Constitution and as citizens first, and let justice be served.

I hope this email helped explain why this case is so important, and why it’s crucial that Trump be held accountable.

Thanks for reading.

– Adam