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"House Democrats must stand in the breach to defend the
principles and institutions of constitutional democracy," Raskin
wrote in a letter to colleagues. “That is our historic
assignment now. We dare not fail.”
Raskin said in the letter — obtained by The Associated Press —
that he decided to run for the post after spending the week
consulting with House Democrats and “engaging in serious
introspection” about where the party is following their stunning
electoral defeat last month that handed Republicans control of
Congress and the White House.
While currently the top Democrat on the House Oversight
Committee, Raskin said that come next year, the Judiciary
Committee under his leadership would become "the headquarters of
Congressional opposition to authoritarianism" as well as other
efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to thwart the
Constitution.
Being the face of the resistance against Trump is not new
territory for Raskin who spent the last two years on Oversight
as the most vocal defender of President Joe Biden and his family
as they faced a sprawling Republican investigation — encouraged
by Trump — into their various business affairs.
Raskin, who is a former constitutional law professor, also
helped draft articles of impeachment against the incoming
president for his encouragement of the violent mob on Jan. 6,
2021, and led the impeachment prosecution in the Senate.
But by throwing his hat in the ring, Raskin is inviting what a
bitter intra-party fight with Nadler, who is currently serving
his 17th term in Congress and who has held the top spot on
Judiciary since 2019. Democrats have over the years rarely
broken from the seniority system for committee assignments, no
matter how long someone has held a position, making the outcome
of the race uncertain.
Both men did not respond to requests for comment but Raskin
closed his letter by praising Nadler, saying that he made this
decision “with respect and boundless admiration” for him.
“If I’m lucky enough to be chosen for this responsibility in the
119th Congress, I will turn to Jerry first and throughout for
his always wise counsel and political judgment,” Raskin added.
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