1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

The potential invocation of the Insurrection Act by President Trump poses a grave threat to our civil liberties and democratic institutions. I urge you to take immediate action to prevent this abuse of executive power. While the President has certain authorities under this outdated law, there are no clear legal criteria defining what constitutes an "insurrection" that would justify its use. Invoking it to further militarize the southern border or crack down on peaceful protests would be an unconstitutional overreach. Congress has the authority and responsibility to check this President's authoritarian impulses. You must send an unambiguous message that weaponizing the military against civilians will not be tolerated. Potential steps could include issuing subpoenas to compel transparency, holding oversight hearings, and even initiating impeachment proceedings if Trump defies Congress and the courts. Ultimately, new legislation may be required to repeal or substantially reform the Insurrection Act to prevent its future misuse. Our democracy is being tested like never before. I implore you to uphold your oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Stand firm against any attempt to deploy U.S. troops to suppress the rights of Americans to peacefully assemble and petition their government. The world is watching whether we will honor our nation's highest ideals or succumb to creeping authoritarianism. The future of our republic rests on your willingness to take decisive action now.