Democracy & Rule of Law
Elections
875 Articles
The Functions and Potential (but Fixable) Flaws of the “Protect Mueller” Bills
On Thursday, two bipartisan groups of senators introduced legislation to afford Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III greater protection against removal. Senators Thom Tillis…
The Troubled Status of Russian Sanctions Legislation—with the President’s Signing Statement Attached
[This article was first published on Aug. 3, 2017 at 9:55am ET and updated on Aug. 4, 2017 at 7:10am ET] Just yesterday, an unhappy President Donald Trump signed H.R. 3364, America’s…
Fox’s Seth Rich Story, Don Jr’s Statement, and Legal Implications for the President
In the last 48 hours, the press has reported twice on the President’s, or the White House’s, involvement in putting out false or misleading information about Russia-Trump…
As Hackers Target U.S. Voting Machines, We Need Leaders Who’ll Put Country Over Party
“If there has ever been a clarion call for vigilance and action against a threat to the very foundation of our democratic political system, this episode is it,” former…
The President’s Pardons Paradox: Granting Them Could Aid the Prosecution
It emerged late last week that President Trump has reportedly queried his lawyers regarding the nature and scope of his authority to pardon individuals including himself. Over…
If “Love” Knows No Bounds: On Criminal “Intent” and the Scope of Campaign Finance Law
If the Trump campaign solicited support from Russians in the race against Hillary Clinton, did it, or any of its staff, have the mental state required for prosecution under federal…
Q&A on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Decision to Subpoena Manafort
On Monday night, the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena to compel Paul Manafort, the former chairman of the Trump presidential campaign, to testify at a…
President Trump’s Unsurprising Endorsement of Illegal Solicitation–His 2016 Campaign Repeatedly Violated Ban on Soliciting Foreign Donations
It’s not surprising that President Donald Trump believes that “most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don Jr. attended in order to get info on an opponent”…
How the Prospect of Indictment Could Impact the President’s Decision Making
Over the weekend, the New York Times revealed that former Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr concluded that it was “proper, constitutional, and legal for a federal grand…
Can Jared Kushner Be Impeached?
Overhanging Jared Kushner when he testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Monday is the threat of criminal prosecution – for alleged past behavior and for perjury…
Norms Watch: Democracy, the Trump Administration, and Reactions to It (July 14-July 21)
Editor’s Note: Welcome to the latest installment of Norms Watch, our series tracking both the flouting of democratic norms by the Trump administration and the erosion of…
When This Part is Over–America Post the Russia Investigation
At some point, Special Counsel Robert Mueller will complete his investigation. He could bring criminal charges, name other co-conspirators, comment on possible grounds for impeachment,…