When the leader of a country threatens political opponents with criminal
prosecution for simply doing what they were elected to do, that country is not a
functioning democracy.

And that is exactly what is unfolding right here in the United States as we
speak. Here’s what’s going on:

* During Donald Trump’s first term, immigration agents infamously carried out
an inhumane policy of separating families and ripping babies out of the arms
of their mothers. (As of January of this year, an estimated 1,000 families
had still not been reunited.)

* In response, legislation was passed giving members of Congress the right to
inspect federal immigration facilities — with or without advance notice.

* On May 9, three members of Congress — Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman,
LaMonica McIver, and Rob Menendez, all from New Jersey — visited a federal
immigration facility near Newark to conduct just such an inspection.

* Again, these members of Congress were acting completely within their legal
authority. Yet, numerous armed and masked agents from multiple immigration
enforcement entities pointlessly and forcefully confronted the
representatives, manhandling them and eventually even arresting Ras Baraka,
the mayor of Newark, who was also trying to tour the facility.

* Then, on May 19, the United States Department of Justice — which is supposed
to be independent and politically neutral, but which has been weaponized
under the direction of MAGA lunatic and Trump loyalist Pam Bondi — filed
charges against Rep. McIver over the visit.

* Bizarrely, the charges were announced not through any official channel but
via a post by acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba
— yet another Trump sycophant who has been given a high-level job in the DOJ
— on X, the “social media” platform known as Twitter until Elon Musk bought
it and ran it into the ground.

* Habba — who is evidently unfamiliar with the concept of irony — said, “No one
is above the law — politicians or otherwise.”

It should go without saying, but to be crystal clear:

Threatening sitting members of Congress with prosecution for the “crime” of
exercising their legal duties and opposing Trump’s unlawful deportations is a
sign — a giant, flashing, blaring sign — that Trump’s fascistic impulses must be
taken seriously and must be defeated.

To every member of Congress: [[link removed]]

The Trump regime is threatening a sitting member of Congress with prosecution
for the “crime” of exercising her legal duties and opposing Trump’s unlawful
deportations. Each and every one of you should assert your legal authority and
highlight the absurdity of the threat to one of your colleagues by visiting
federal detention facilities all across America during next week’s congressional
recess. [[link removed]]

Click to add your name now. [[link removed]]

Thanks for taking action.

For justice,

- Lisa Gilbert & Robert Weissman, Co-Presidents of Public Citizen


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