WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Illinois AG Kwame Raoul, Massachusetts AG Andrea Campbell, Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, and New Jersey AG Matthew Platkin spoke at Capitol Hill in a Bicameral Spotlight Forum hosted by Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.  

Democratic AGs discussed in detail how the Trump administration’s unlawful actions are harming their states and, more importantly, how the coalition of Democratic AGs are pushing back to hold Trump accountable.  

Key highlights from the Bicameral Spotlight Forum:  

• “I’m proud to say my state AG colleagues and I are tirelessly fighting back against the Trump administration’s unconstitutional and unlawful actions,” AG Raoul said. “We are unafraid to defend the rule of law with litigation, legal support, and public communications that are informed, urgent, and unwavering. We have done so on behalf of all Americans and American institutions.”
   

• “As the President continues to take reckless and unlawful actions that violate our Constitution and harm our residents, my colleagues and I have been fearlessly stepping up to hold the administration accountable and to protect our residents, our states, and our economies,” AG Cambell stated. “As state AGs, we serve as chief law enforcement officers for our states acting as the first line of defense against actions that violate our laws and harm our communities.”

• AG Campbell continued, “We take these responsibilities seriously and we hold not only a President but frankly anyone accountable who violates our laws and infringes on the rights of our residents. So, as President Trump continues to repeatedly disregard the Constitution, break federal law, and flagrantly abuse his power it is AGS who are holding him to account on behalf of our states and the American people.”
   

• “This committee can count on state AGs, the ones who believe in liberty and justice for all, to continue to fight,” AG Ellison said. “None of us are tired and we can do this longer than they can do this.”
   

• “We are leading lawsuits challenging these unlawful and reckless actions that threaten public safety and put Americans in harm’s way,” AG Platkin said. “We will not let this administration play political games with the safety of our residents.” 

AG Platkin then joined Rep. Raskin on MSNBC’s The Weeknight to discuss why it is so important to hold the Trump administration accountable through litigation and uplift the work already done. 

“These are real harms and the reason why we have a rule of law is so that people can’t be hurt arbitrarily based on the whims of a President, the way a king or a tyrant could do,” AG Platkin said. “We as a nation came together and gave Representative Raskin and his colleagues the authority to establish the laws, and the President has a constitutional obligation to follow it. And when he doesn’t, real people get hurt.” 

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