Press Release

(Washington) --- Americans know an authentic hero when they see one. More than 316,006 people sent letters to the White House supporting Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and condemning the act of retribution by President Donald Trump. Fresh from his impeachment “show trial” acquittal, where Republicans refused to hear first-hand from witnesses and new evidence, Trump purged Vindman out of his post in the White House at the National Security Council in one of the first visible moves of what unchecked power looks like. Trump has continued  a combination of revenge and purity purges removing many long-serving and faithful government professionals who dares to stand in his way and stand up for the rule of law.

We commend the Virginia Senate for passing SJ18 and strong enabling legislation to establish a redistricting commission that will end gerrymandering of congressional and state legislative districts.

“The Attorney General is and has always been the attorney for our nation—the United States—not the President’s attorney. But Attorney General Barr has made clear that, first and foremost, he serves President Donald Trump’s personal and political interests and not the interests of the United States. Barr has failed to faithfully execute the most basic duty of his office. This is not how justice works in the United States. The American people expect and deserve better."

“We are deeply disappointed in the Court’s decision to approve the T-Mobile-Sprint merger, which will have significant consequences for consumers and competition.  All of the evidence in this proceeding shows that this merger is inherently illegal under antitrust law.  Even evidence presented at the trial revealed the companies’ executives acknowledged prices for wireless service would rise if the merger was approved.  The Court’s decision will reduce the wireless market from four to three national carriers, undoubtedly raising prices on wireless customers.  Consumers can also expect to see coordinated effects from the remaining three national wireless companies, which will result in higher prices, fewer choices, and less innovation across the board.  Low-income and marginalized communities who rely on more affordable services from T-Mobile and Sprint may find themselves displaced from wireless access."

Today, Common Cause joined a group of nonpartisan and bipartisan political reform organizations in filing an amicus brief at the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in support of Michigan’s nonpartisan redistricting commission in Daunt v. Benson and Michigan Republican Party v. Benson.

Americans deserved the truth, but they got a ham-handed coverup instead. The Republican majority in the United States Senate denied the American people the truth and violated their oaths of office in a fruitless attempt to sweep Donald Trump’s illegal acts under the rug. In a cowardly and disgraceful final act to their show trial, Senate Republicans – with the notable exception of Mitt Romney - buried their heads in the sand and voted to condone President Trump’s blatant abuse of the powers of the presidency. Make no mistake about it, this was nothing more than an attempted partisan coverup for the shameless and illegal conduct of Donald Trump.