Democracy Defenders Fund

Epstein survivors are urging the Senate to reject Blanche's nomination for AG. We've called for an independent Epstein files review & an ethics investigation b/c his record raises questions about whether he can put the DOJ's duty above Trump's interests. the-independent.com/news/world/ame…

Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing should make one thing clear: he is unfit to lead the DOJ. From his role as Trump’s personal lawyer to his handling of the Epstein files, Blanche has repeatedly shown his allegiance is to Trump, not the American people. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Confirming Todd Blanche as AG means signing off on a DOJ that answers to one man. Blanche has never stopped acting like Trump's personal lawyer. That's why we, @LDADemocracy & 101 bipartisan former judges are calling for an ethics investigation. slate.com/news-and-polit…

Earlier this year Patel took an FBI jet to Italy for official duties, where he was filmed attending the Olympic men's hockey final. The trip came at an estimated $75k to taxpayers. The FBI failed to release records, so we're suing for answers. democracydefendersfund.org/prs/06.03.26-pr

Kash Patel's spending habits are facing new scrutiny—from both parties. House & Senate Dems have repeatedly raised concerns, and now GOP Senator Chuck Grassley is requesting reimbursement records for the FBI director's personal travel on a gov aircraft. ms.now/news/house-dem…

The Constitution protects birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court rejected Trump's effort to end it. A request for rehearing doesn't change the Constitution—or the rights it guarantees. thehill.com/homenews/admin… democracydefendersfund.org/prs/06.30.26-pr

"If Davey Hearn can be charged with a felony for touching the reflecting pool, every American is at risk – and every American should be alarmed about this prosecution." Our full statement with WLG democracydefendersfund.org/prs/07.09.26-pr

1,200 former DOJ employees have just sent a letter urging Senators not to confirm Todd Blanche as AG: "In the coming weeks, many will rightly underscore the corruption and abuses that have defined the Justice Department under Todd Blanche’s leadership: the vindictive prosecutions and investigations of the President’s foes; the deals designed to reward lawbreakers with taxpayer dollars; the erasure of accountability for January 6; the mishandling of the Epstein files; and the denigration of judges and repeated violations of their orders... For the sake of the institution where we once proudly served, we urge you to reject Todd Blanche’s nomination."

We and @LDADemocracy and 101 former fed & state judges share the same concerns, and are calling for an ethics investigation into Acting AG Todd Blanche. democracydefendersfund.org/prs/06.22.26-pr

More than 1,200 former Justice Department employees are urging the Senate to reject Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general. Their warning: he's helped politicize the DOJ, purge career staff, and put loyalty to Trump ahead of the rule of law. thehill.com/homenews/admin…

Another reminder that executive power isn't unlimited: A federal court ordered the USDA to restore $127 million in grants after finding the Trump administration's terminations were likely unlawful. A win for farmers and communities. capitalbnews.org/black-farmers-…

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸 The American experiment began w/a refusal to accept a sovereign’s abuse of power and a determination to place the rule of law above the will of any single leader. At 250, that work continues. contrariannews.org/p/an-annotated…

Reports of the White House considering "250 pardons for 250 years" underscore an issue we examined earlier this year: how Trump has used pardon power to reward, maintain, or coerce political loyalty. democracydefendersfund.org/autocracy-v-de…

Today, many of the most important questions about presidential power are decided in court. The courts are central to checking abuses of executive authority—seen clearly this week in Supreme Court rulings affecting presidential power. contrariannews.org/p/an-annotated…

The Trump admin is moving forward with a mass USDA reorg despite Congress rejecting the plan. Proud to be part of the coalition asking the court to block it before it disrupts services that feed families, support farmers & protect communities. democracydefendersfund.org/prs/07.02.26-pr

How seriously should we take Trump’s threat to enact legislation to end birthright citizenship? “Not seriously at all,” DDF Senior Counsel Taryn Wilgus Null told the @nytimes. The Constitution is built to withstand the personal whims of one president. nytimes.com/live/2026/06/3…

Our Chief Counsel Virginia Canter joined It’s the Democracy, Stupid to break down how we are using using legal ethics complaints and litigation to challenge conflicts of interest, DOJ misconduct, and failures of accountability across the fed government. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its…

Birthright citizenship stands. For Plaintiff K, it means her daughter’s future is secure. Translated by DDF’s Caroline Porcile: “It was important for me to fight for these rights, for me and all migrants like me who fled violence and have children in the U.S.” @MSNOWNews

DDF’s Carolina Porcile reflects on today’s landmark birthright ruling & what it means for our client, Plaintiff K. “A momentous decision—K has endured adversity few of us can imagine & this relief for her family is monumental—for her & for us as her representatives.” @MSNOWNews

Full statements @ democracydefendersfund.org/prs/06.30.26-pr

Today, SCOTUS reaffirmed a simple constitutional truth: if you're born in the United States, you're an American. Birthright citizenship remains protected under the 14th Amendment, and we are proud to be part of this fight with @ACLU @NAACP_LDF @AsianLawCaucus & others.