1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

Trump’s former personal lawyer filing charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver should outrage every patriotic American. Trying to throw opposition politicians in jail on flimsy excuses is tyrannical, the stuff of insecure kings and tinpot dictators and not the leaders of free countries. You need to immediately and loudly condemn this authoritarian act by the Trump Administration, demand the charges be dropped, and push for Alina Habba to answer questions under oath about who approved them and who directed her to file them. Furthermore, you need to recognize Donald Trump’s continued abuse of authority to punish those who displease him is an infection eating away at our democracy, and act accordingly. Rep. McIver and her colleagues were attempting to do their job, performing an oversight visit at an immigration detention facility. The law is very clear that they were permitted to do so and did not need to provide any prior notice. The confrontation was needlessly created by members of an out-of-control agency, and Rep. McIver’s actions were clearly not what the Justice Department is now pretending. It is laughable to think Rep. McIver would have been politely given a tour of Delaney Hall by agents she had assaulted moments before. This administration has made it very clear they will use state power to criminalize dissent and retaliate against those they deem political enemies, especially those who push back against mass deportation and mass detention. We have seen this used against multiple institutions and individuals, from congressional leaders and top-tier law firms to students and farmworker labor organizers. It is a total rejection of our most cherished values, and it is only going to get worse from here. Please protect this country and do what is in your power to draw the line.