Ann Tobin
@aetobin.bsky.social
Minnesota State Activist, particularly for gender equity and bodily autonomy; tennis and pickleball player; proud mother and grandmother
This is an absolutely remarkable memo — and a betrayal of both the Constitution and the American political tradition. In the US, by *explicit contrast* with interwar fascist governments, the state is not supposed to be an extension of the personality of the chief executive.
![Office of the Attorney General
Washington, D. C. 20530
February 5, 2025
MEMORANDUM FOR ALL DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES
FROM:
SUBJECT:
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
GENERAL POLICY REGARDING ZEALOUS ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES'
"[E]xecutive Power." More broadly, attorneys are expected to zealously advance, protect, and defend their client's interests. Department of Justice attorneys have signed up for a job that requires zealously advocating for the United States.
The responsibilities of Department of Justice attorneys include not only aggressively enforcing criminal and civil laws enacted by Congress, but also vigorously defending presidential policies and actions against legal challenges on behalf of the United States. The discretion afforded Department attorneys entrusted with those responsibilities does not include latitude to substitute personal political views or judgments for those that prevailed in the election.
When Department of Justice attorneys, for example, refuse to advance good-faith arguments by declining to appear in court or sign briefs, it undermines the constitutional order and deprives the President of the benefit of his lawyers. It is therefore the policy of the Department of Justice that any attorney who because of their personal political views or judgments declines to sign a brief or appear in court, refuses to advance good-faith arguments on behalf of the Administration, or otherwise delays or impedes the Department's mission will be subject to discipline and potentially termination, consistent with applicable law.
' This guidance is not intended to, does not, and may not be relied upon to create, any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:y2tqoxl4zx7iuyh3rhbhdwv3/bafkreic4hwhm45xtfe5w2yb3y27ye4zw72ch2l2jydx3avbn6yxwllwbqi@jpeg)
February 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
bsky.app
February 6, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Reposted by Ann Tobin
This attack on free speech comes at the same time that legislators in Texas are proposing bills to make pro-choice websites illegal.
I really hope folks are paying attention
I really hope folks are paying attention
Just days after Trump returned to the White House, Instagram is censoring abortion content. This is what Aid Access' account looks like right now - posts about how to get abortion medication has been blurred out.
January 22, 2025 at 10:55 PM
This attack on free speech comes at the same time that legislators in Texas are proposing bills to make pro-choice websites illegal.
I really hope folks are paying attention
I really hope folks are paying attention