Paul Rosenzweig in The Atlantic
Charter Member Paul Rosenzweig recently published an opinion piece in The Atlantic, arguing that the Trump administration’s actions have undermined the Department of Justice and eroded the rule of law.
He contends that this assault is threefold: using the justice system to target political opponents, deploying it to reward allies, and eliminating internal opposition within the department.
Rosenzweig writes:
The United States once revered the rule of law. Americans believed that those who rule the country should be governed by it, and that it should be applied equally to each of us. Being subject to law means that government action is, as a general matter, less arbitrary, more predictable, less commanding, less subject to personal whims, and, in the end, less coercive. The rule of law is what makes citizens freer to say and do what they please.
Maintaining the rule of law is premised on the neutrality of DOJ employees. They must be committed to treating similar cases and defendants alike. They must apply the law without regard to political and social factors. And they must act without creating a fear of retribution or an expectation of receiving favors in return.
That is what Americans should be crying out for today. I fear it might already be too late to restore the faith in law we once had. The courts cannot save themselves, and Congress is supine. Significant damage to institutions has already been done.