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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 1d

TODAY: The Trump admin is using law enforcement for political revenge.

Join Not Above the Law & DDF Senior Advisor @katiephang.bsky.social at 1PM ET as they unveil a report on this dangerous abuse of power

RSVP: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: PRESS CALL: Ranking Member Joe Morelle, Rep. Dan Goldman, Katie Phang, and Democracy Advocates to Join Not Above the Law Coalition to Unveil a Report Detail...

On Thursday, October 9th at 1:00 PM ET, U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (NY-25), Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, U.S. Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY-10) and Katie Phang, for...

us06web.zoom.us

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 1d

The law requires that furloughed federal workers be paid

Now the administration is signaling it may not follow through & 34,000+ IRS workers are caught in the middle

We joined our labor partners AFGE & @afscme.bsky.social to demand accountability from OMB

Read HERE:

IRS Furloughs Begin

Wednesday marked the sixth business day of the government shutdown, with the IRS giving notice of an agency-wide furlough.

tax.thomsonreuters.com

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 2d

NEW: We along w/ AFGE & @afscme.bsky.social are demanding OMB uphold the law and guarantee back pay for furloughed federal workers

Withholding it would be illegal and cruel. These workers are not political pawns & they deserve every dollar they’re owed.

Read HERE:

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Fund

www.democracydefendersfund.org

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 3d

At today’s Senate hearing, AG Bondi was asked to explain reports that officials were told to flag any mentions of Trump in the Epstein files. Her answer? "not going to discuss anything about that with you.”

The public deserves transparency

That’s why DDF has sued the DOJ for these records

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 7d

BREAKING: Major victory for democracy and the rule of law.

A federal court has blocked Trump’s illegal attempt to fire members of Puerto Rico’s Oversight Board.

The judge ruled the firings violated the Constitution.

This is a crucial check on executive overreach.

Read HERE:

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Fund

www.democracydefendersfund.org

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 7d

In response to a federal appeals court decision upholding the block on Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order, Tianna Mays, legal director of Democracy Defenders Fund, issued the following statement:

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 8d

Today DDF filed a second letter with the GAO, expanding our call for an investigation into whether federal agencies violated the law by publishing partisan messages during the shutdown.

Following is a statement from Virginia Canter, chief counsel and director of ethics and anti-corruption at DDF 👇

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 9d

BREAKING: DDF is calling for a GAO investigation into HUD’s unlawful use of its website to spread partisan attacks—blaming the “Radical Left” for the government shutdown.

This isn’t public service. It’s propaganda funded by taxpayers.

Read HERE: www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/10.1.25-...

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Fund

www.democracydefendersfund.org

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 9d

At the center is a Trump directive that targets nonprofits, funders & activists under the guise of fighting “political violence”

It threatens investigations based on ideology, singling out groups the admin disagrees with

Read via @Newsweek: www.newsweek.com/what-is-nspm...

What is NSPM-7? Over 3,000 nonprofits sound alarm on new Trump directive

The directive sparked concerns from law firms and nonprofits, more than 3,000 of have signed onto an open letter rebuking it.

www.newsweek.com

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 9d

BREAKING: 3,700+ nonprofits, including civil rights, religious, and public service groups, are condemning Trump’s illegal attacks on civil society

This is a coordinated assault on free speech and dissent

We’re proud to stand with them

Read HERE: www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/10.1.25-pr

What is NSPM-7? Over 3,000 nonprofits sound alarm on new Trump directive

The directive sparked concerns from law firms and nonprofits, more than 3,000 of have signed onto an open letter rebuking it.

www.newsweek.com

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 10d

BREAKING: The Trump admin is threatening mass firings of federal workers during their own shutdown

That’s illegal

That’s why we’re in court with AFGE & @afscme.bsky.social to stop it

Read HERE: www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/9.30.25-pr

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Fund

www.democracydefendersfund.org

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 14d

BREAKING: DDF and top ethics experts are demanding full investigations into prosecutorial abuse by Trump-appointed U.S. Atty Lindsey Halligan following the indictment of James Comey

DOJ must not be turned into a weapon for furthering the president’s personal grievances.

Read HERE:

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Fund

www.democracydefendersfund.org

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 14d

A broad coalition of democracy and media freedom advocates, educators, & shareholders has demanded answers from Disney about the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel

Pulling Kimmel was a mistake that betrayed free speech & democracy

We joined RSF and @aft.org to demand release of internal docs

Read HERE:

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Fund

www.democracydefendersfund.org

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 14d

In response to yesterday’s indictment by the Trump administration of former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey, Norm Eisen, executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, released the following statement:

Donald Trump has ordered the criminal prosecutions of political targets, and the Department of Justice is corruptly obeying.

Republican and Democratic administrations had already rejected these claims against James Comey. Yet the Trump Administration has continued anyway, trampling over Comey’s rights and the rule of law.

This is an authoritarian attack on law and order unworthy of our nation and the American legacy we have inherited. We must say so, in one voice.

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 17d

BREAKING: House members are calling on DOJ & FBI to release tapes of Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan allegedly pocketing $50K in bribes.

DOJ prosecutors were reportedly preparing 4 charges—until the case was shut down.

We need transparency. Read HERE:

Judiciary Democrats Demand DOJ, FBI Release Recordings of Tom Homan Receiving $50,000 Cash Bribe

Washington, D.C. (September 23, 2025)—Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Committee Democrats sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel demanding the release of the explosive recordings that reportedly show White House “Border Czar” Tom Homan

democrats-judiciary.house.gov

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 21d

NEW: We are proud to rep 3 members of Puerto Rico’s Financial Management and Oversight Board suing Trump & challenging their firing

The suit warns: If the President can ignore Congress’s limits on territorial governance, he can do it anywhere.

Read HERE:

3 members of federal control board in Puerto Rico sue Trump and others for illegal firings

Three members of a federal control board overseeing Puerto Rico’s finances who were recently fired by the administration of U.S.

apnews.com

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 21d

BREAKING: DDF calls for an investigation into whether senior White House advisor Steven Witkoff violated federal law by allegedly offering NYC Mayor Eric Adams a U.S. ambassadorship to abandon his reelection campaign

Dangling govt. appointments to influence an election is illegal

Read HERE:

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Fund

www.democracydefendersfund.org

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 22d

BREAKING: 3 members of Puerto Rico’s Federal Oversight and Management Board are suing the Trump admin over their unlawful firing. The lawsuit argues the President violated the U.S. Constitution by removing them w/o cause

The President can’t hijack an independent board

Read HERE:

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Fund

www.democracydefendersfund.org

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 25d

MAJOR Ruling: A federal court confirms the Trump admin’s mass firings were an illegal, politically motivated purge.

We’ll continue standing with our coalition partners to seek justice for the public servants who were wrongfully terminated.

Read our coalition statement HERE:

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Fund

www.democracydefendersfund.org

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · 28d

BREAKING: DOJ is playing games with already public documents, shielding the powerful and betraying survivors.

We’ve expanded our lawsuit to demand full release of the Trump-Epstein files.

Read HERE: www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/9.12.25-pr

Press Release | Democracy Defenders Fund

www.democracydefendersfund.org

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · Sep 10

“We took Trump at his word when he said he’d be a dictator on day one.”

At @captimes.com Idea Fest, The Contrarian EIC Jennifer Rubin & DDF Exec Chair Norm Eisen shared how they’re countering authoritarianism with truth, legal action & journalism that won’t bend the knee.

Read HERE:

Jennifer Rubin, Norman Eisen aim to counter Trump’s ‘flood the zone’

The former Washington Post columnist and former CNN legal analyst, who together launched The Contrarian, discussed national politics at Cap Times Idea Fest.

captimes.com

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · Sep 10

Following is a joint statement by Abbe David Lowell of Lowell & Associates, and Norm Eisen, exec chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, regarding U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb’s Tuesday decision that blocks President Trump from removing Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors:

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · Sep 4

TODAY: DDF asks DOJ to investigate Apple CEO Tim Cook’s potentially unlawful gift of a 24K-Gold brick to Trump, given just minutes before Trump granted Apple billions in tariff relief.

Read HERE: www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/9.4.25-pr

Press Release | State Democracy Defenders Fund

www.democracydefendersfund.org

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · Sep 3

The fight for the full release of the Epstein files is a fight for truth—and for the survivors who’ve waited too long.

We @democracydefendersfund.org are leading the charge to hold those in power accountable.

As reported in @thehill.com, transparency is essential for justice.

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democracydefendersfund.org @democracydefendersfund.org · Sep 2

BREAKING: Victory for AmeriCorps grantees—funding withheld by the Trump-Vance admin has been restored after lawsuits from DDF & partners.

A major win for national service & the communities they serve.

Read HERE: www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/9.2.25_2...

Press Release | State Democracy Defenders Fund

www.democracydefendersfund.org

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