Statement - People Power United's joint statement on Trump’s Election Interference Case In Manhattan
🗽A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
People Power United joined other local, state, and national groups to issue a statement on Trump’s Election Interference Case In Manhattan. Shout out to Constitutional Accountability Center for leading these efforts.
“The New York court case isn’t only important to hold Trump accountable for falsifying his company's business records—it’s critical to defend the rule of law,” said Lisa Gilbert, Executive Vice President of Public Citizen. “Our elections are the bedrock of our democracy and the New York court system must ensure a thorough and prompt trial to hold President Trump accountable for his criminal behaviors against the American voter.
“Ensuring the public is well-informed of the 34 felony counts facing Trump as this trial unfolds is crucial,” said Brett Edkins, Managing Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Stand Up America. “This is more than just money being used to bury the truth—it’s power and influence trying to be held to a different standard. That is why the media and the public must remain vigilant and the Trump criminal trials must play out without obstruction or delay.”
“The American public deserves nothing less than an exhaustive examination of former President Trump’s alleged behavior,” said Praveen Fernandes, Vice President of the Constitutional Accountability Center. “After all, the indictment describes behavior that went beyond corporate malfeasance—it was an attempt to suppress negative press about Trump to influence the 2016 presidential election. We must stand against any and all attempts to damage the integrity of our elections.”
“Former President Trump’s New York criminal case is a clear example of his pattern of criminal behavior and doing everything he can to stay in power—including hiding the truth from the American voter,” said David Sievers, Campaign Director of MoveOn. “The evidence is clear and the rule of law is clearer—no one is above the law. We must hold everyone accountable to the same standard and equally enforce our nation’s laws.”
Here is the statement issued on behalf of our People Power United membership:
March 28, 2024
Jury selection will likely begin next month in Manhattan in People of the State of New York v. Donald Trump. The 34 felony counts in the Trump indictment relate to falsification of business records as part of a cover up of payments made to Stephanie Clifford, the adult film actress known as Stormy Daniels, as a means to interfere with the 2016 presidential election. The facts alleged in the indictment recount much more than a sordid soap opera and corporate malfeasance; they also describe conduct that should matter to anyone who cares about democracy, voter information, and meaningful voter choice.
The Manhattan indictment alleges that the payments were made to cover up an alleged affair with the adult film star, information that might have influenced voter choice had it come to light before the election. As the Statement of Facts that accompanies the indictment describes, Trump “orchestrated a scheme with others to influence the 2016 presidential election by identifying and purchasing negative information about him to suppress its publication and benefit the Defendant’s electoral prospects.” As legal and ethics experts have explained, this corrupt interference scheme might have been effective:
It is entirely possible that the alleged election interference might have altered the outcome of the 2016 contest, which was decided by just under 80,000 votes in three states. Coming, as it might have, on the heels of the “Access Hollywood” disgrace, the effort to keep the scandal from voters may have saved Mr. Trump’s political prospects.
The instance of election interference in 2016 might also be understood as an early sign of Trump’s antipathy for voters, which surfaced again in behavior culminating in the January 6th violent attempt to overturn the 2020 election results and disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.
If the rule of law is to remain meaningful, no one—not even a former president—should be allowed to be above the law, and all the Trump criminal trials must play out. The first of these trials is important. We, the undersigned organizations, stand united in our desire for a prompt and fair trial that goes wherever the facts and the law lead. The undersigned organizations also express our hopes that as the Manhattan trial unfolds, the full context for the charges is made clear and understandable to the American public. Our nation deserves nothing less.
Respectfully,
Accountable.US
Clean Elections Texas
Common Cause
Constitutional Accountability Center
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
Defend Democracy Project
Democracy 21
Free Speech for People
Lawyers Defending American Democracy
MoveOn
People For the American Way
People Power United
Public Citizen
Secure Elections Network
Stand Up America
State Democracy Defenders Action
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People Power United champions progressive values and power to the people. We are a group of people who believe in the possibility of change and work to make it happen. Whether it's supporting a candidate, fighting to pass legislation, or working to change our culture, our members are committed to an inclusive and progressive future.