Dear Friend,

Are you as alarmed as I am? This morning, the Supreme Court shattered one of the core foundational principles underpinning our democracy: that we are a nation of laws, not men, and that no individual - not a king, not a president, not a civilian - is above the law.

In ruling that President Trump has substantial immunity from criminal liability for trying to overturn the election results, the Supreme Court has dramatically expanded the scope of presidential powers. As Justice Sotomayor wrote in her dissent, “The relationship between the president and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law.”

Our founding fathers declared independence and fought a revolution because they did want to be governed by a king who viewed himself above the law. These are heavy times for all those who care about democracy and the rule of law. No matter what party you belong to, this ruling should deeply trouble every single American.

The role of state government has never been more important. Between the threats to our democracy from the MAGA movement, a Congress that is more partisan and broken than ever, and a rogue Supreme Court that has done more damage to the rule of law than any court in our history, it’s up to states like ours to be xxxxxxs against tyranny and a beacon for democratic values.

New York is at the forefront of this fight by expanding, not retracting voting rights; by protecting, not restricting, abortion and access to reproductive healthcare; by strengthening, not weakening, gun laws; and taking action on climate change. And this November we will have the opportunity to enshrine equal rights for all by passing the Equal Rights Amendment.

I’m committed to doing everything in my power to defend our democracy and ensure that our government is one of laws, not men. It’s crucial we hold the line now more than ever.