The attack on democracy you probably missed
www.vox.com
This story appeared in the Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here.Welcome to the Logoff. Today Im covering another purge at the Justice Department, where Donald Trumps administration is taking revenge against high-ranking career prosecutors who prosecuted Trump allies over January 6 and in other criminal cases.Whats the latest? The head of the Washington, DC, US attorneys office demoted seven high-ranking prosecutors on Friday, Reuters reports, moving them to entry-level positions in a bid to force them to quit. Those demoted include:The leader of the Capitol siege prosecution unit A prosecutor who worked on criminal cases against Trump advisers Steve Bannon and Peter NavarroProsecutors who worked on criminal cases against the heads of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, two far-right extremist groups that worked to steal the 2020 election on Trumps behalfThe experienced attorneys will now mostly handle misdemeanors and low-level crimes. The demotions follow the January firing of US attorneys who prosecuted Trump over his attempt to steal the 2020 election.Why were they demoted? Ed Martin, the Trump-appointed new head of the DC office, claimed the moves reflected a shift in priorities and a focus on local crime in DC. But the Trump-related experiences of the officials selected and the move of experienced prosecutors to entry-level jobs make it difficult to believe this wasnt an act of retribution.Whats the big picture? The demotions send a strong signal to prosecutors that there will be consequences for officials who try to hold Trump and his allies accountable to the law. Its also another blow against the DOJs independence, as Trump works to remake law enforcement as a tool he can wield for political ends. And the move weakens the US attorneys office in Washington, which is tasked with prosecuting abuses of power by some of the countrys most powerful people.And with that, its time to log offVoxs Gray Area podcast this week is about the science of changing ones own personality how, why, and if one should endeavor to fix the parts of ourselves that we dont like. Its a 45-minute listen, perfect for a walk outside (or, in my case, doing some long-overdue dishes). Whatever you decide to do while listening, I promise its a far, far better option than the doomscroll. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for all the smart emails this weekend, and Ill see you back here tomorrow.See More:
0 Commentarios ·0 Acciones ·54 Views