As you undoubtedly know by now, Donald Trump was found guilty last Thursday of
34 felony counts related to the conspiracy he orchestrated to interfere with the
2016 election by paying an adult film actress and falsifying business records to
cover up those payments.

Trump was afforded every right our justice system allows. In fact, he was
granted more leniency throughout his trial than most defendants could hope to
receive.

And he was found guilty. On all counts. By a unanimous jury.

Contrary to virtually any other convicted criminal, Trump was able to turn a
guilty verdict into a veritable goldmine.

His campaign reports that it got $52.8 million in online donations in just the
first 24 hours after the verdict was announced. (And they might actually be
telling the truth.)

That shatters Trump’s previous political fundraising records. (Though let’s
remember that when Trump announced his candidacy in 2015, he claimed he wouldn’t
need to fundraise at all because of how rich he was. Good one.)

For comparison, here’s how much Public Citizen raised online last Thursday and
Friday:

$6,745

Now, we obviously weren’t the ones prosecuting Trump in that Manhattan
courtroom.

But Public Citizen is fighting — day in and day out, in public and behind the
scenes — to see Trump held accountable for his offenses against the law and the
American people.

For example:

* Back in 2017 — recognizing that holding Trump accountable would require a
coordinated, sustained movement — we helped found the Not Above the Law
coalition. Because the rule of law, and the foundational principle that no
one is above the law, are at the very heart of our democracy. We continue to
lead this diverse, nationwide group of over 30 partner organizations,
including Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Common Cause,
Indivisible, and People For the American Way.

* We worked with members of the bipartisan January 6 committee in Congress
leading up to and during its historic hearings on Trump’s attempted coup.

* Our ongoing advocacy directed at government officials has built public demand
around criminal liability for Trump. This includes pressure leading to the
Department of Justice eventually investigating and indicting Trump for his
illegal attempts to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election.

* I was at the courthouse the day Trump’s trial began, where I addressed the
national media to highlight the fact that the trial was about far more than
payments to a porn star — it was about a criminal conspiracy to interfere
with the 2016 election that may well have been the difference in Trump
becoming president.

* And, through strategic field organizing and online activism — including
dozens of emails you’ve gotten from me (if you’ve been on our list for a
while) — Public Citizen has built a nationwide grassroots force of everyday
Americans calling for Trump to be held accountable.

Look, I know I’m not going to wake up one morning and find that Public Citizen
got millions in online donations overnight.

But I also know that it does take a baseline level of real-world financial
strength to keep being one of the drivers of the movement to hold Trump
accountable and to keep standing up in the face of Trumpism. (Along with
continuing to fight corporate power and government inaction as we have been for
over half a century.)

And — very much unlike Trump — we neither solicit nor accept money from
billionaires or Big Business. Everything we do together depends on everyday
folks like you chipping in what they can, when they can.

So I’m asking:

Please donate today to help Public Citizen continue fighting Trump and Trumpism.
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A group of longtime supporters will match anything you contribute today
dollar-for-dollar. [[link removed]]

I’ll say that again: [[link removed]]

Every donation made today in response to this message will be matched
dollar-for-dollar. [[link removed]]

DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR MATCH — CONTRIBUTE NOW
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Or sign up as a Monthly Donor today and your contribution will be matched
dollar-for-dollar each month for a full year!
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If donating today is not a good fit, that’s okay.

Either way, I hope you appreciate knowing a little more about the work you and
Public Citizen are doing together.

Thank you for being part of this shared project called Public Citizen.

For democracy, justice, and progress,

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen


Public Citizen | 215 Pennsylvania Avenue SE | Washington DC 20003 | Unsubscribe
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