HAPPENING NOW: Senate Dems are speaking on the floor about Trump's judicial nominees. @blumenthal.senate.gov says they're discussing one of the most important decisions they're going to make with respect to the future of justice in America — the nomination of Emil Bove to serve on the Third Circuit.

Numerous, high-level judges and attorneys are standing by the whistleblower who says Emil Bove, Trump's judicial nominee to the 3rd Circuit, said DOJ should ignore court orders and tell the courts "F*** you." More: www.politico.com/news/magazin...

Several D’s held a spontaneous presser outside of the hearing. They believe Bove may have perjured himself. They asked for a second round of questioning to give him a chance to clear up the record. They were denied.

Strong questioning by Schiff . “Did you say tell court to fuck you? Bove: “ I don’t recall” Schiff is incredulous “isn’t that the kind of thing you would remember? Unless that’s something you say a lot”.

Strong questioning by Sen. Schiff. He asked Bove if he said in meeting to tell court to “fuck you”. Bove said “I don’t recall” Schiff says “isn’t that the kind of thing you would remember? Unless that’s something you say a lot”.

One of most important questions for Bove from Sen Booker: Where is the line? What would the president ask you to do that you wouldn’t do?

Sen Klobuchar in her questioning is very deftly calling into question Bove’s justifications for dismissing charges against Mayor Adams. His explanations don’t hold water.

Sen. Durbin is forcefully challenging Bove on firing of January 6th prosecutors. Bove trying to say the reason was that they were provisional employees, but Sen Durbin says it just doesn’t square with what Bove said.

Bove just sworn in right after Sen Booker said he should be testifying instead in oversight hearing about DOJ defying rule of law - not for hearing on his nomination to seat on third circuit. Booker also called for committee to hear from whistle blower.

Senator Booker is making it clear that as home state Senator he had enormous objections to Bove. No way the White House could have thought otherwise. Also making important point that the opposition to Bove is bipartisan!

Sen Grassley is trying to say concerns about Bove are about “ties” to the president. Let’s be clear: he’s been Trump’s enforcer. He does not have the integrity or independence to be a federal judge. As Sen. Durbin is saying he’s weaponized DOJ. And WSJ: he appears to be a “smash mouth partisan”

Senator Grassley is accusing the D’s of using “inappropriate” language about Bove. This about someone who wants to be federal circuit court judge, who according to a whistleblower, said DOJ attorneys should tell the court “fuck you” about obeying court’s order!

I am at what may be one of the most consequential hearings in recent times, on Emil Bove’s nomination to 3rd circuit. This is the former Trump criminal lawyer and collaborator w/Trump at DOJ on defying courts and politicizing DOJ. Wall Street Journal characterized Bove a “smash mouth partisan”

Raskin: You are not our king, and we are not your subjects. We will never be your subjects. All of us born here on this land are citizens and your executive order is nothing but bad graffiti on the Constitution, and we're going to wash it off today

From the no Longs Day protest in Bethesda,MD. Old and young and in between, cars and trucks!!

Thank you Senator Durbin for your fight for fair courts.

An important read: thehill.com/opinion/cong...

Constituents to Chuck Grassley: "Are you bringing back that guy from El Salvador?" Senior Citizen: “If I get an order to pay a ticket to pay $1200 and I just say ‘no’, does that stand up? Because he just got an order from the Supreme Court and he just said ‘screw it’” “I’M PISSED!”

Just posted: A storm of dissent against MAGA is brewing into a hurricane thehill.com/opinion/whit...

Good to see bipartisan oppo to R's anti-injunction bill. Rep Jayapal says it: “Here’s a message: if you don’t like the injunctions, don’t do illegal, unconstitutional stuff. Nationwide injunctions play an essential role in protecting our democracy and holding the political branches accountable.”

Law professor and constitutional scholar Raskin asks us all to read the steel seizure case. Probably a good idea but much more interesting to listen to Prof Raskin. Tell it!!!

Rep Raskin quoting Ben Franklin: “Make yourself a sheep and the wolves will eat you.” We have an anti-monarchical, anti-cruelty, anti- corruption constitution. We need to uphold those constitutional values.

In these truly challenging times, in the face of dangerous authoritarian threats, when it’s possible to feel hope slipping away, hearing from the brave souls who testified at today’s accountability hearings, keeps hope alive. Thank you to Senator Schiff and Rep Raskin for shining the light.

At accountability hearings Rep. Scanlon highlighted letter that hundreds of law firm lawyers signed in opposition to law firms caving to Trump. Sen Blumenthal building on this. First rule on fighting authoritarians: “Don’t obey in advance”. So very important to celebrate those who are standing up.

Senator Klobuchar gets to the point- R electeds are acting like subjects of the king. Where are the R’s?

At accountability hearings, Rep Hank Johnson celebrating the heroes who are testifying.

Hearing room aghast when Sen Schiff announces CJ Roberts on behalf of SCOTUS determined not to intervene in case of man that DOJ admitted was erroneously sent to El Salvador

Totally agree with what Rachel Cohen is saying- problem is that big law firms are not taking a unified position against the threats. Kudos to those who are standing up

Think for a minute what former pardon attorney Liz Oyer just testified: it was only those who had back channel access to the White House who had pardons considered. Total end run around fact-based analysis that should be standard practice. And then she was fired for not facilitating the end run.

Rachel Cohen: we all deserve brave advocates - I choose courage.

Rachel Cohen is Skadden, Arps attorney who resigned when her firm caved to pressure from Trump. Rep Raskin opened with touching context that she was a good friend of his son Tommy at law school. Super powerful statement. This is resistance!

Stay true to your values. Everyone must have a line that can’t be crossed. Ryan Crosswell- so powerful

Ryan Croswell testifying now - He was in DOJ public integrity section - he resigned after Trump DOJ pressured career attorneys to drop criminal charges against Eric Adams. That courage is what we need to resist Trump lawlessness.

Liz Oyler says two armed deputies to her home to deliver warning about risk if testifying. “I will not be bullied for talking about corruption at DOJ . So incredibly powerful. You don’t hear this every day - we need more people to show courage like this. Thank you Liz!

Pardon attorney Liz Oyer fired for not getting Mel Gibson special treatment to have gun despite domestic violence conviction. Fired without notice or explanation.

AG sent armed Marshalls to home of one of the witnesses to try to prevent her from testifying today. Rep Raskin: Worst cowards are the despots who try to terrorize others. Could not agree more!!!

Rep Raskin, my congressman - so proud to be able to say that - celebrating those who stood up in the face of abuses of power by Trump Admin. R’s refuse to question the abuses - instead the R’s go after judges and want to impeach them!!

@schiff.senate.gov rightfully draws on history to illustrate why standing up for rule of law matters. Succumbing to want-to-be-dictators makes it more likely they’ll be dictators. It takes courage to stand up for what’s right, and it’s up to us to make sure they don’t stand alone.

Hearings are packed

The hearings are packed. Sen. Schiff lifting up importance of individuals in there different capacities of standing up to abuse of power.

At House/Senate joint hearing on Trump lawlessness and need for accountability

Just saw that Josh Hawley is crying crocodile tears over urgency of filling four district court vacancies he prevented President Biden from filling over the past four years.

Good read: "It’s our humanity and our commitment to defend the humanity of those around us, that can get us through the not-so-glorious mess we’re in." thehill.com/opinion/whit...

Lawyers and big firms: For God’s sake, stand up for the legal profession, and for the Constitution. Defend the oath you took when you became officers of the court. If we stand together and fight, we will win. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/o...

I hold out hope that, by 2030 -- the 250th Anniversary of the US Constitution -- we will be done with this foray into authoritarianism.

It's sad to think about the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next year being nothing more than a massive MAGA propaganda operation overseen by Trump

So, I guess we're back to officially ignoring that many of our country's founders enslaved Black people? How will our museums and monuments teach about Jim Crow and the Civil Rights movement without "disparaging" the KKK, Sheriff Clark, and other violent racists?

The SAME ORDER calls for the return of monuments celebrating the Confederacy, and demands that historical sites not "disparage" people, and focus only on the "greatness" of Americans and their accomplishments.

The MAGA assault on America is relentless. Trump's latest order targets the Smithsonian, promising to root out "improper ideology"--specifically naming the National Museum of African American History and Culture. wapo.st/4cbTYWM