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.

STATE DEMOCRACY DEFENDERS ACTION URGES CONGRESS TO REJECT EXTREME CABINET NOMINEES

Press Release | January 15, 2025

SDDA joins coalition of pro-democracy organizations urging Congress and members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to reject the nomination of Russell Vought for Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

STATEMENT FROM NORM EISEN ON RELEASE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL REPORT ON JANUARY 6TH CASE

Press Release | January 14, 2025

Norm Eisen releases a statement on the Special Counsel’s final report by the Department of Justice on Trump’s Jan. 6 case.

STATE DEMOCRACY DEFENDERS ACTION DENOUNCES REINTRODUCTION OF "SAVE ACT"

Press Release | January 10, 2025

State Democracy Defenders Action Policy Director Gabe Lezra released a statement denouncing a policy aimed at restricting voting access.

Bipartisan group of legal experts File Amicus Arguing against Presidential Immunity in Trump Election Interference Case

Press Release | January 9, 2025

Former Republican and Democrat Prosecutors, Government Officials & Preeminent Scholars file amicus brief arguing presidential immunity does not apply in Trump election interference case.

State Democracy Defenders Action Statement on Trump's Motion to Dismiss in New York Election Interference Criminal Case

Press Release | December 3, 2024

Norm Eisen releases a statement in response to president-elect Donald Trump's motion to dismiss his New York election interference criminal case.

NEW REPORT EXPOSES EFFORT TO UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE IN UPCOMING ELECTION

Press Release | November 1, 2024

U.S. House Rep. Jamie Raskin, former Rep. Joe Walsh and a coalition of groups from across the ideological spectrum today launched No Dictators Declaration, a national effort focused on protecting American freedoms by closing loopholes that could allow a president to use vast executive powers to violate constitutional rights.

NEW "NO DICTATORS DECLARATION" SEEKS TO PROTECT FREEDOMS BY BLOCKING FUTURE ABUSE OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER

Press Release | September 23, 2024

LEGAL & CONSTITUTIONAL LAW EXPERTS FILE AMICUS IN MAR-A-LAGO CASE

Press Release | September 4, 2024

A group of legal and constitutional law experts including George Conway, Trevor Potter and Laurence Tribe have signed on to an amicus brief in support of the Special Counsel in the Mar-a-Lago documents case.

DEMOCRACY WATCHDOG GRUPS LAUNCH RESPONSE MAPPING POSSIBLE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS

Press Release | August 6, 2024

Today, State Democracy Defenders Action, American Oversight, and Court Accountability Action launched Trump Project 2025 Administration, a comprehensive resource that identifies and maps the dozens of potential key appointees across offices and agencies – and areas of influence – in a possible second Trump administration.

TOP POLITICAL, LEGAL, AND ACADEMIC VOICES COME TOGETHER TO SOUND ALARM ABOUT THE GROWING THREAT OF AUTOCRACY IN AMERICA

Press Release | July 28, 2024

On July 23, leading thinkers from across the ideological spectrum joined hundreds of Americans for a day-long summit, Autocracy in America: A Warning and A Response.

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.