(The Center Square) – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s attack on the Trump administration continues.
Raoul, along with 20 other Democratic attorneys general, penned an open letter calling for unity in the legal profession against the Trump administration’s retaliation against law firms that have brought cases against the administration.
During a recent virtual town hall meeting hosted by the Progressive State Leaders Committee, Raoul said the legal community must stick together.
“If we allow for the attack on the independent judiciary, then we’re nearing closer and closer to a constitutional crisis and the only thing that stands in the way is the people at large,” said Raoul.
Since returning to office, Trump has often called the U.S. legal system into question. Trump said his administration is taking action against a number of law firms that have participated either in the weaponization of government and the weaponization of the legal system for political ends.
“We are living under a judicial tyranny,” said deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller after the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled the president didn’t have the power to impose trade tariffs.
An appeals court ruled late Tuesday that Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs can remain in place while a legal challenge over his authority to impose import taxes continues.
Some law firms singled out by Trump have opted to cut deals and avoid going to court.
“We’ve seen time and time again with the most recent example being Elon Musk that there are no permanent friends with this administration, and if you think you made a deal, think again,” said Raoul.
Since the beginning of the year, Raoul has taken aim at the federal government on several issues.
This week, Raoul expressed his support for a lawsuit by California’s top law officer challenging an order from the Trump administration. The legal clash, spearheaded by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, takes aim at Trump’s attempt to federalize the California National Guard in response to protests. A federal judge denied a California motion to immediately block Trump’s moves.
Raoul also joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its decision to stop enforcing federal laws that prohibit the possession and distribution of forced reset triggers, which convert semi-automatic firearms into machine guns.
Brett Rowland contributed to this report.
