#AllRise

A WARNING FROM AMERICA'S LAWYERS: DICTATORSHIP IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.

If You Don't Want to be Ruled by a Dictator, Take a Stand Now for the Rule of Law.

February 25, 2020

We are lawyers from all over the country. We have different political affiliations, different backgrounds, and different values. We disagree on a lot of things, but on this we agree:

America is in danger of becoming a dictatorship, and only the collective will of the American people can prevent it.

As lawyers, we would not issue such a dire warning without clear and compelling evidence of an immediate threat. We ask you to look at just a few of the recent actions of President Trump and Attorney General Barr:

  • Using the Department of Justice to punish Trump's enemies and reward Trump's allies - The Department of Justice, under the leadership of Attorney General Barr, suddenly intervened in the sentencing of Roger Stone after President Trump tweeted that the DOJ's original sentencing recommendation (which was in keeping with Federal Sentencing Guidelines) was "horrible and unfair." Stone, who is known to be an ally of President Trump, was convicted on seven counts of lying to Congress during the Russia investigation and tampering with a witness. All four federal prosecutors working on the Roger Stone case withdrew immediately after the DOJ suggested a lighter sentence.
  • Purging/firing government officials who aren't personally "loyal" to Donald Trump - President Trump has instructed aides to identify and "get rid" of government officials who aren't defending Trump's personal interests; he wants them replaced with "loyalists" (people who are loyal to Donald Trump personally). Shortly after the impeachment trial, President Trump fired Gordon Sondland (former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union) and Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (former National Security Council staffer and Purple Heart recipient) because they testified during the House impeachment inquiry. Since then, Trump's effort to purge the government of anyone who might not put Trump's personal interests first has escalated.
  • Firing the acting director of national intelligence for doing his job (informing Congress of potential foreign interference in our elections) - President Trump fired Joseph Maguire as acting director of national intelligence, because Maguire's staff appropriately informed Congress of a potential threat to the security of 2020 elections. More specifically, Maguire's staff informed Congress of evidence that Russia is already working to influence the outcome of the 2020 election in favor of Trump. Rather than taking steps to prevent foreign interference in a U.S. election, President Trump fired Joseph Maguire and is replacing him with Richard Grenell (who has no experience in intelligence but is personally loyal to Donald Trump).

These actions by President Trump and Attorney General Barr are direct attacks on the Rule of Law. If we allow these actions to go unchallenged, through our silence we are allowing America move closer and closer to dictatorship.

But what is the "Rule of Law" and why is it so important?

The Rule of Law is what prevents America from becoming a dictatorship.

In a dictatorship, the law is whatever the dictator says it is.

In a dictatorship, the people can't use the legal system to challenge the actions of the dictator, because the law is whatever the dictator says it is - and the courts defer to the dictator's mandates.

In a dictatorship, there can be no such thing as "freedom of speech" or "freedom of the press" because judges don't have the independence to make a decision that goes against the dictator's mandates.

In a dictatorship, anyone who disagrees with or challenges the dictator is in danger, because the dictator can use the legal system to go after his personal enemies, political challengers, or anyone else.

In America, the law IS NOT whatever the president says it is.

In America, the people CAN use the legal system to challenge the actions of the president, because the president does NOT run the courts and the president is NOT above the law.

In America, the people have Constitutional rights (such as freedom of speech and freedom of the press), and those rights CAN be enforced through the legal system because judges are part of a separate branch of government which is NOT controlled by the president.

In America, there are three co-equal branches of government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) and the President runs just ONE of those three branches. Each branch has certain powers designed to provide checks and balances and prevent any one person from exercising dictatorial authority.

The Rule of Law is what prevents America from becoming a dictatorship - and only the American people have the collective power to ensure that the Rule of Law is upheld.

As lawyers, we have sworn an oath to “defend and protect” the United States Constitution.

We speak out today because we must.

America is in grave danger of becoming a dictatorship, and the only way to prevent it is for all of us - the American people - to take a stand for the Rule of Law.

As retired Admiral William H. McRaven, who oversaw the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, recently wrote:

"As Americans, we should be frightened — deeply afraid for the future of the nation. When good men and women can’t speak the truth, when facts are inconvenient, when integrity and character no longer matter, when presidential ego and self-preservation are more important than national security — then there is nothing left to stop the triumph of evil.”

There is no one person, petition, letter, protest, or action that can fix this problem. We must build a movement - a coalition of individuals, organizations, lawyers, non-lawyers - and commit ourselves to the ongoing work of restoring the Rule of Law in our country.

Please join us. The time is now.

Join us in calling for Attorney General Barr to resign.

Join us in demanding that President Trump stop using the Justice Department for his own personal or political ends.

Join us in asking every member of Congress to do their jobs and hold the President accountable for his actions.

Join us by becoming part of the #AllRise movement, so we can all work together to uphold and defend the Rule of Law. Here's how:

>> Complete the form on this page and indicate whether you are a lawyer or non-lawyer (if you are a non-lawyer, select "Other" in the dropdown menu).

  • If you are a lawyer, we will add your name to the list of signatories on this letter and include you in #AllRise email updates with opportunities for future actions in support of the Rule of Law.
  • If you are not a lawyer, we will send you #AllRise email updates with opportunities for non-lawyers to take action in support of the Rule of Law.

>> If you are an organization interested in joining the #AllRise coalition, email us at info@L4GG.org. We welcome coalition partners and will help promote the actions of our coalition partners in future email updates to the #AllRise community.

If you know of other individuals or organizations who might like to learn more or join this movement, please share this page with them.

We must take action now - before it's too late.

#AllRise