Former DOJ officials publicly back Harris and brand Trump ‘grave risk’ to country
Former top officials at Justice Department described Trump as someone who ‘regularly ignored the rule of law’ while serving as president
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.More than 40 former Justice Department officials who served under both Republican and Democratic presidents have signed a letter endorsing 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris, according to a new report.
The letter — which includes the signatures of former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, former deputy attorneys general Sally Yates, David Ogden, and Jamie Gorelick, and the top Washington prosecutor during George W Bush's administration, John McKay — paints Harris as a common sense candidate who will respect the rule of law, according to NBC News, which first reported the endorsement.
Harris is a former attorney general for the state of California, a role that has earned her both praise and condemnation within her own party.
The former justice officials made clear that between the former prosecutor and Trump, who was convicted of a felony, they chose Harris.
“The fabric of the nation, the rule of law and the future of the Democracy are at stake in this election,” the letter states. “The stakes could not be higher. Former President Trump presents a grave risk to our country, our global alliances and the future of democracy.”
The letter was explicit in not just endorsing Harris but painting Donald Trump as a dangerous alternative who threatens the legitimacy of justice in the US.
The document accuses Trump of having "regularly ignored the rule of law" during his time as president. It specifically cites his "unconstitutional Muslim travel ban" and his alleged attempt to steal the 2020 election through his fake elector scheme and the Capitol riot.
The former DOJ officials' letter comes on the heels of the majority conservative Supreme Court's decision to uphold Trump's claims of "presidential immunity," which shields presidents from criminal liability tied to their "official acts."
Harris's campaign is already being aided in some capacity by former DOJ officials; former Attorney General Eric Holder is leading the effort to vet her potential running partners, and Brian Fallon, a former DOJ spokesman, is working as her communications director.
The vice president-turned-2024 presidential hopeful has put her past as a prosecutor up front during her recent appearances as well. During a campaign event on Tuesday, Harris called out Trump and reminded the nation that she used to be in the business of sending people to jail.
“I took on perpetrators of all kinds: predators who abused women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain,” she said. “So hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments