Free Speech For People Joins United to Protect Democracy & Others to Sign a Letter to the Inspector General & Department of Justice: Step in Forcefully on WH/DOJ Communications, Prevent Further Damage

In response to near-daily revelations about White House efforts to sideline and discredit the investigation of Russia interference in the 2016 election, some involving the Attorney General and the Department of Justice senior leadership, the nonprofit, nonpartisan group Protect Democracy has written to the Inspector General “to urge forceful and urgent action to prevent further inappropriate contacts.”

As the letter explains, the White House has engaged in a clear pattern of disregard for these policies by directing DOJ how to do its job, which undermines a core pillar of our democracy and cannot be allowed to continue. Free Speech For People signed the Protect Democracy group, along with: American Oversight, Center for American Progress, Color of Change, Common Cause, CREDO, Daily Kos, Free Speech for People, The Loyal Opposition, People for the American Way, Public Citizen and Women’s Action for New Directions.

“There’s been a pattern of this White House and DOJ ignoring longstanding rules designed to keep our law enforcement system independent since the first days of this Administration. Director Comey’s testimony made clear that DOJ leadership is failing to do its job in enforcing these rules — the result is now threatening the very checks and balances that protect our democracy. The Inspector General must step in to help put a stop to inappropriate contacts between the Department of Justice and the White House immediately before more damage is done to DOJ’s independence.”

— Allison Murphy, Counsel, Protect Democracy

Click to read the letter