WASHINGTON — Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12), Representatives Dan Goldman (D-NY-10) and Summer Lee (D-PA-12) joined the Not Above the Law Coalition for a press conference yesterday on Constitution Day to address the unprecedented constitutional challenges posed by the Trump administration and advocate for urgent passage of the Protecting Our Democracy Act.
The lawmakers stressed that Trump’s systematic disregard for the rule of law undermines foundational principles that have sustained the republic for over two centuries. The administration has deployed federal agencies like the DOJ and FBI as political tools against opponents, judges, and ordinary Americans – turning law enforcement into retribution rather than justice. When these constitutional safeguards are undermined, Americans lose fair treatment under the law, the power of their vote, and the strength of their voice in democracy.
The speakers highlighted the urgent need for Congress to pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act, which includes essential reforms to curb misuse of presidential pardon power, ensure no president is above the law, protect whistleblowers, strengthen congressional oversight, and preserve law enforcement independence from political manipulation.
The Not Above the Law coalition also released an open letter signed by organizations representing millions of Americans, calling on Senate leadership to schedule an immediate vote on the Protecting Our Democracy Act. The letter criticizes the Trump administration’s continued challenges to democratic institutions and warns that without legislative action, the nation faces continued erosion of democratic norms and the concentration of unchecked power in the executive branch.
In their letter, the organizations wrote:
“This is not about partisan politics: it is about constitutional governance and the protection of our basic freedoms. Congress has the constitutional authority and moral obligation to act. Every official who has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution must recognize the gravity of this moment. Inaction enables autocracy.”