media center

For general media and press inquiries, please reach out to us at press@democracydefenders.org

December 17, 2024

SLATE: The Only Way to Interpret ABC’s Trump Defamation Settlement

Norm Eisen reflects on the announcement that ABC News and its parent company Disney reached a dubious settlement of a defamation lawsuit brought by President-elect Donald Trump, capping off an extraordinary stretch of capitulation by major players in old and new media since October.

December 5, 2024

NEWSWEEK: Pardons May Be Key to Protecting People From Political Persecution

Norm Eisen, Richard Painter and Kim Wehle encourage President Joe Biden to grant Trump critics and whistleblowers pardons to protect against unjust political prosecutions in the next administration.

November 22, 2024

SLATE: The True Lesson of the Matt Gaetz Nomination Crash

Norm Eisen, Diamond Brown and Gabe Lezra discuss Matt Gaetz's withdrawal from Attorney General Consideration and how this decision points to an optimistic future for our democratic pillars.

November 4, 2024

SLATE: Trump's Next Big Lie Has Already Begun

Norm Eisen and LULAC CEO Juan Proaño discuss the newest "Big Lie of 2024" espoused by Donald Trump and his allies about immigrants and voting.

October 22, 2024

AJC: Georgia Courts Continue to Put Rule of Law Over Politics

Norm Eisen and Richard Painter discuss the recent decision by Georgia courts to strike down rules crafted by the MAGA-aligned majority of the Georgia State Election Board – delivering a monumental victory for GA voters.

October 20, 2024

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: In a Pair of Legal Cases on the Validity of Pa. Mail-in Ballots, the Voices of Voters Must Prevail

Two cases remain active on appeal before the state Supreme Court that could help shape the 2024 election – and the future of voting in the commonwealth.

August 8, 2024

MSNBC: Trump and His Allies Are Previewing Their Election Sabotage Plan in Georgia

Norm Eisen, Lauren Groh-Wargo, CEO of Fair Fight, and Carol Anderson, Woodruff Professor of African American Studies at Emory University discuss the recent efforts in Georgia which could lay the foundation for obstructing the certification of the 2024 election.

THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT TURNS 60 AS TEXAS AND TRUMP TRY TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK

Press Release | August 06, 2025

Following is a statement from Susan Corke, executive director of Democracy Defenders Action, on the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Texas’s attempt to redraw its congressional map to entrench partisan power.

MORE THAN 100 JUDGES SAY U.S ATTORNEY APPOINTEE SIGAL CHATTAH IS UNFIT FOR OFFICE

Press Release | July 29, 2025

116 former judges signed a letter to Chief U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon of Nevada and his district court colleagues.

THEATRICAL CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS CAN’T OBSCURE THREATS TO DEMOCRACY

Press Release | July 23, 2025

Tianna Mays, legal director at Democracy Defenders Action, released the following statement regarding Congressional hearings on “DEI discrimination” and “clean roles and secure elections.”

PIRRO FAILS TILLIS TEST

Report | July 18, 2025

A new report reveals that Jeanine Pirro downplayed Capitol violence and defended January 6th rioters—violating Senator Tillis’s own standards and proving she should not be confirmed as D.C.’s top federal prosecutor.

DDA SLAMS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOLLOWING PASSAGE OF CRYPTO LEGISLATION WITHOUT KEY ETHICS PROVISIONS

Press Release | July 17, 2025

Following the passage of the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts in the House, Democracy Defenders Action released the following statement.

DEMOCRACY DEFENDERS ACTION URGES HOUSE TO REJECT CRYPTO LEGISLATION

Press Release | July 16, 2025

Ahead of this week’s expected votes on the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts in the House, Democracy Defenders Action released the following statement urging the House to reject the measures in their current form.

NEARLY 80 FORMER FEDERAL AND STATE JUDGES PEN LETTER URGING SENATE TO REJECT BOVE NOMINATION

Press Release | July 15, 2025

The judges point to Bove's role in targeting FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors who investigated the Jan. 6 attack as well as his alleged interference in a DOJ bribery investigation involving New York Mayor Eric Adams.

OVER 30 BIPARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS URGE SENATE TO REJECT BOVE NOMINATION

Press Release | July 15, 2025

The coalition cites Emil Bove's pattern of disqualifying conduct as cause to reject the nomination.

DDA CALLS ON CONGRESS TO ADDRESS PRESIDENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN CRYPTO LEGISLATION

Press Release | July 9, 2025

Ahead of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee hearing on digital assets, Virginia Canter submitted a statement urging lawmakers to include safeguards in digital asset market legislation.

DEMOCRACY DEFENDERS ACTION STATEMENT ON
PASSAGE OF RECONCILIATION PACKAGE

Press Release | July 3, 2025

Following the passage of the reconciliation package today by the U.S. House of Representatives, Democracy Defenders Action issued the following statement.

THE CONTRARIAN: Publisher's Roundup, 11

“Have You No Sense of Decency,” Mr. Trump?

THE CONTRARIAN: Publisher's Roundup, 10

Trump is Lashing Out Because He’s Losing

THE CONTRARIAN: Why Donald Trump Is Attacking Me—and You

Publisher's Roundup, 9. "You may have seen that on Friday afternoon, Donald Trump lashed out at me over and over again during a speech at the Department of Justice. At me…and at you, dear Contrarians. He is doing this because we are successfully challenging his lawlessness together. For this week’s publisher’s note, I want to encourage you to perceive his targeted vitriol as a badge of honor."

THE CONTRARIAN: Here Comes the House

Publisher's Roundup, 8. "We know from the experience of other nations that have thrown off autocratic leaders that defeating tyranny requires a whole of society approach. My week was framed by two pro-democracy power-moves by the minority in the House of Representatives. They augur the major role that the minority in that body, led by Hakeem Jeffries, will play in the days and months ahead."

THE CONTRARIAN: The Oval Outrage—and The Contrarian Counter

Publisher's Roundup, 7. Norm Eisen writes about the infamous attack on President Zelensky of Ukraine by Donald Trump and JD Vance. To treat any foreign leader—any guest—visiting the Oval Office with such contempt, belligerence, and ignorance is utterly unacceptable.

THE CONTRARIAN: Spring training—for democracy!

Publisher's Roundup, 6. "Across the country, Trump’s illegal actions are being stopped by the courts, they’re being protested in the streets and questioned at increasing volumes in town halls. For every illegal action, pro-democracy lawyers and organizations (some bipartisan) are working to file multiple lawsuits and have multiple demonstrations against it. The coalition of pro-democracy forces has won many fights—but not all of them"

THE CONTRARIAN: Quid pro quo? Hell no! (aka Sassoon-er or Later Trump Will Go

Publisher's Roundup, 5. "Donald Trump’s full-on assault on law and decency just completed its fourth week—but so did the vigorous pro-democracy response that we highlighted here at The Contrarian."

NEW YORK TIMES: LULAC and State Democracy Defenders Action Push Back Against the "Big Lie" of Non-Citizen Voters

The League of United Latin American Citizens and State Democracy Defenders Action partner up in a new report providing a comprehensive analysis of Donald Trump and his allies' efforts to push a disinformation campaign based on lies about immigrants and voting.

Amb. Norm Eisen Testifies Before the House Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Manhattan District Attorney's Office

Ambassador Eisen explains why Trump's New York conviction for 2016 election interference and cover up matters as he limbers up to do the same thing in 2024.