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Hi,
BREAKING: Merrick Garland says his Department of Justice will NOT prosecute Trump officials, including former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, even though an inspector general found evidence they provided false testimony about the origins of the proposed citizenship question on the 2020 census.1
This sets a terrible precedent, and gives reason to be deeply concerned about how Merrick Garland’s DOJ will handle the crimes committed during the Trump administration. We need accountability for the Trump years -- and the DOJ has a critical role to play in making this happen.
Sign the petition: The DOJ must hold Trump officials accountable! Stop letting them off the hook.
We know there was consistent chaos and rule-breaking across the Trump years, but what exactly did Wilbur Ross do? That's a great question.
In 2019, the Commerce inspector general launched its probe into Ross following a request from a group of Senators, including Elizabeth Warren, Chuck Schumer, and Kamala Harris. The Senators said in their letter that Wilbur Ross and other Trump officials played a "substantive role" in proposing the addition of the citizenship question to the 2020 Census.
Senators were concerned that adding a citizenship question to the Census would deter non-citizens from participating in the census. As we know, the census is critical for ensuring that resources are allocated fairly across the country and that we have strong representation in Congress. Eventually the Supreme Court ruled against Ross and the Trump Administration and blocked the citizenship question from the Census.
Ross twice told Congress the addition of the citizenship question was based solely on a request from the Justice Department, but the inspector general found Ross "misrepresented the full rationale" behind the decision. The IG's findings follow emails that clearly demonstrate the role Ross, the White House and other Commerce officials played well before the DOJ became involved in the matter, making it abundantly clear that Ross may have lied directly to Congress.2
When Trump officials so blatantly misled Congress to further their hateful agenda, why is Merrick Garland allowing his Department of Justice to let them off the hook?
We need to send a clear message that the American people want full accountability for Trump officials who broke the law.
Add your name: Merrick Garland, the DOJ must hold Trump officials accountable!
Thanks for taking action,
Maria and the team at Demand Progress
Sources:
1. Government Executive, "DOJ Will Not Prosecute Trump Officials After IG Referred Findings of False Testimony on Census," July 16, 2021.
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