A Republic, If We Can Keep It

The Fight for Democracy Is Far From Over

Yesterday, Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a motion to dismiss the federal criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump. The announcement hits like a gut punch, a devastating reminder that justice delayed is justice denied.

I’m angry. And you should be too.

For years, we’ve witnessed a slow and at times reluctant response from those in positions of power to hold Donald Trump accountable for his attacks on our democracy. Following his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 election, Trump orchestrated a campaign of lies and lawlessness to undermine the results. The January 6th insurrection was the culmination of that effort—a blatant attempt to overturn the will of the American people. Yet, meaningful action to investigate these crimes came far too late.

I can’t help but direct my frustration toward those who were entrusted with protecting our democracy. When President Biden took office in January 2021, I was filled with hope that those who attacked our democracy and participated in the effort to overturn the election would be held accountable by his administration.

Like many Americans, I over estimated the strength of our system of government and its ability to hold powerful people accountable. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco inherited a Department of Justice battered by political interference. Their cautious approach might have been well-intentioned, but it was woefully insufficient in the face of the clear and present danger posed by Trump and his allies.

Our democratic institutions cannot defend themselves. They rely on people—on leaders with the courage to act swiftly and decisively. When they fail to do so, as they did here, the damage to public trust is incalculable.

Now, as Trump prepares to return to the highest office in the land, we must ask ourselves: What lessons have we learned? What accountability is possible for those who waited too long to act? And, most importantly, how do we ensure this never happens again?

The attack on the United States Capitol, on January 6th, 2021, was a dark day for our country, and with the return of Trump to the White House, it’s highly likely that he will issue pardons to his supporters that attempted to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, by forcibly obstructing Congress from performing its constitutional responsibility of certifying the presidential election results.

This is not just about Donald Trump. It’s about the very fabric of our democracy—its resilience, its integrity, and its ability to endure in the face of those who seek to dismantle it.

Amid this institutional inertia, the January 6th House Select Committee worked tirelessly to uncover the truth. Through a year of painstaking investigation, the committee laid bare Trump’s attempts to cling to power at any cost. Their work gave us clarity, exposed his lies, and provided a foundation for accountability.

But while the Select Committee fulfilled its duty to investigate and educate the public, their findings were handed off to a Justice Department that had dragged its feet for far too long. By waiting until Trump’s return to the campaign trail, federal prosecutors allowed him to whitewash history and rewrite the narrative.

Trump has leveraged the delay to sow doubt, spin conspiracies, and rally his base with claims of persecution. This vacuum of accountability enabled him to cast himself as a victim, not a perpetrator, and to solidify his grip on a movement built on misinformation and grievance.

Had indictments been issued promptly—while the public still remembered the horror of January 6th and before Trump could recast himself as the martyr of his own myth—his path back to power might have been far less certain. The delay wasn’t just a missed opportunity; it was a catastrophic misstep that will haunt us for years to come.

While my frustration with the Department of Justice's delay is undeniable, I am grateful for the work of Special Counsel Jack Smith and his team. His investigation has been meticulous, and his efforts to hold Donald Trump accountable have demonstrated a deep commitment to justice and the rule of law.

Special counsels are uniquely positioned to navigate politically sensitive cases, and Smith’s independent approach has been a vital counterweight to the public’s eroded trust in our institutions. But his appointment came far too late.

Imagine if Smith had been appointed in March 2021, just days after Merrick Garland was confirmed as Attorney General. With the insurrection still fresh in our minds and Trump’s actions clear for all to see, a prompt and decisive investigation could have reshaped the timeline of accountability. By acting swiftly, the Justice Department could have prevented Trump from seizing the narrative and galvanizing his supporters with baseless claims of persecution.

Instead, the delay gave Trump two critical years to whitewash history, discredit investigations, and position himself as the victim of a political witch hunt. This lost time will remain a stain on the DOJ’s legacy during this critical period in American history.

That said, I recognize the magnitude of what Jack Smith has accomplished in the time he’s had. He has confronted unprecedented challenges, navigating a polarized political landscape while investigating the most powerful and divisive figure in modern American politics. His work, though delayed, serves as a testament to the enduring importance of accountability.

The Founding Fathers feared a leader who would exploit power for personal gain, disregard the rule of law, and undermine the institutions designed to preserve our democracy. Their warnings about demagogues were rooted in a belief that unchecked ambition and contempt for norms could unravel the republic they worked so hard to build.

Donald Trump embodies those fears. His presidency exposed the fragility of our system, revealing that its strength depends not just on written laws but on the commitment of leaders and citizens to uphold them. His return to power will further strain the integrity of our democracy if we allow it, as his disregard for accountability threatens to normalize lawlessness at the highest levels.

This moment demands action. We must recommit to the values that sustain our republic—truth, justice, and a respect for institutions. Accountability is not just about looking backward; it’s about ensuring the survival of our democracy for future generations. The lessons of this era are clear: if we fail to act decisively, the republic’s resilience will continue to erode.