Supervisors object to Trump’s attack on the rule of law
Eight members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors issued a statement on Sept. 22 objecting to President Trump’s actions against U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert.
“President Trump’s reported pressuring of Interim U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert to resign because he failed to find evidence against the president’s political enemies is an attack on the rule of law, and one that threatens the well-being of our community,” the board members state.
Siebert resigned on Sept. 19 as the top federal prosecutor at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The White House pressured him to resign for failing to bring a criminal case against Trump’s political enemy, New York Attorney General Letitia James, for mortgage fraud, despite the lack of sufficient evidence.
“Fairfax County frequently collaborates with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on important cross-jurisdictional and federal cases related to public safety,” the statement notes. “There are many factors that make Fairfax County the safest jurisdiction of its size, including an engaged community, exceptional public safety agencies and programs, and judicial cooperation with federal officials.”
“We now find ourselves at an inflection point and a precarious moment in our nation’s history,” the supervisors state. “Siebert’s resignation comes just weeks after the ouster of Interim Western District of Virginia Attorney Todd Gilbert, reportedly over a personnel dispute. Though Fairfax County is not in the Western District’s jurisdiction, this pattern is troubling.”
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The circumstances surrounding Seibert’s resignation “appear politically motivated, and malicious, given President Trump’s statement on the matter, and are antithetical to the very foundation of our justice system,” the supervisors charge.
“Our residents deserve federal partners who are committed to public safety, not political grandstanding and meritless prosecutions,” the statement continues. “As leaders of Fairfax County, we call on our members of Congress and the judges of the Eastern District of Virginia to stop President Trump from turning the U.S. Attorney’s office into his personal law firm. The safety and security of our community, and the rule of law, demand nothing less.”
The statement was signed by Board Chair Jeffrey McKay, Kathy Smith (Sully), Walter Alcorn (Hunter Mill), James Bierman (Dranesville), Andres Jimenez (Mason), Rodney Lusk (Franconia), Dalia Palchik (Providence), and Daniel Storck (Mount Vernon).
Trump went after Letitia James after she won a $485 million civil fraud case that found Trump had inflated the value of his assets to get better loan terms.
Supervisors need to stick to their knitting. Stop the pity party.
“You’re not allowed to supervise when its the guy I like.”
Aren’t there potholes that need some attention?
I bet the orange man is shivering in his shoes. Stick yo what you can control. Build the
casino; 7 corners revamp of roads
Do NOT build the Casino!
As an attorney, it pains me to see politicians trying to turn “rule of law” into a partisan political catchphrase. Here is the law: US Attorneys are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the President. 28 U.S.C. 541(c) “Each United States attorney is subject to removal by the President.”
You may not like what a president does in a particular situation, but if he is acting in accordance with his legally authorized powers, then it is consistent with the rule of law. If a Democrat is elected president and replaces the Trump appointees, is the BOS going to condemn that as contrary to the rule of law? The Board of Supervisors has no jurisdiction over these matters. The nasty political discourse coming from both political parties is ultimately destructive because it is intended to misinform and promote anger and hate. Rule of law is fundamentally about courts deciding disputes in accordance with the words in statutes and applying consistent legal principles. That is not what the BOS is doing.
Susan you are deranged if you think going after an attorney general who recognized our president is a felon for made up charges to go after them, which everyone was ringing the alarms for political fallback on his “enemies” people who were reinforcing law. Yes it is a breach of rule of law, this is what autocracies do when they are forming at the start. This makes everything other opinion you hold here put into perspective.
You suck at conveying thoughts. Spare us.
Susan is not deranged.
I am not a lawyer but there are boatloads of case law as well as federal statutes that enumerate and inform debate about actions taken under the color of law.
To plead that actions of government officials, that on their face seem legally authorized, are “consistent with the rule of law,” is giving alot of deference to these officials, especially if you take into account the entirety of the circumstances.
The president reportedly removed this USA because the USA wouldn’t bring charges against James Comey; Despite the USAO recommending that insufficient evidence existed to bring said charges.
The USAG was reluctant to bring these charges.
The statute of limitations of bringing these charges is like one day later this week or sometihn.
The president has publicly proclaimed that James Comey is guilty (of something?)
The replacement for the USA has no trial or prosecutorial experience and really no qualifications other than loyalty to the president.
I could go on.
Looking at any of the above statements, they all are individually abnormal and worthy of note. Every one of these alone is an example of an instance of behavior that gives rise to the appearance of impropriety.
We used to teach in civics and ethics that even the appearance of impropriety has to be avoided, because even the mere appearance thereof corrupts people’s faith in the justice system.
We now have a President who seems to embrace this, and it’s not just one of the above indicators of abnormality or impropriety, it’s ALL of them. That isn’t consistent with the rule of law, even if it is by a lawyers reading legal.
But ok, lets skip the part about the charges even being brought. Let’s talk about the right to a fair trial by an unbiased jury. And the presumption of innocence.
How does one get an unbiased Jury when the President is broadcasting that you are guilty?
But more importantly, actions “consistent with the rule of law” almost certainly means actions that protect the notion that one is innocent until proven guilty. But here we have the president undermining that fundamental ideal.
How can someone who claims to be an attorney suggest that anyone stating publicly, as a matter of fact, that someone is guilty, before their indictment, arraignment, or trial has even occurred, is acting in a manner consistent with the law?
Oh, but this isn’t just anyone, this isn’t joe blow idiot who has no responsibility to ensure the rights of the accused. This is the singular person with the most responsibility to do so, and he seems to want to skip this part. The Chief LEO of the USA who swore an oath to take care to faithfully execute the laws of our nation, and he just doesn’t give a shit about James Comey’s presumed innocence.
If you really don’t see the difference and daylight between the actions of this Administration and the rest of American History, you can’t be paying attention.
Great comments Susan and thank you for the truth in this matter. The other truth is that all but one of the members of the BOS are Democrats so they have to oppose everything done by President Trump.
I concur with Susan and thank her for the truth in this matter. And another truth is that President Trump’s views and actions are completely antithetical to the wellbeing of the residents of Fairfax County, and the Democrats on the Board of Supervisors absolutely should come out against him.
I applaud our supervisors for writing this letter. There are multiple intersecting interests with the Eastern District of Virginia. Thank you Board of Supervisors for taking a stand for democracy and the rule of law!
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors should focus on local issues and stop raising taxes. Property taxes and fees have already gone up several times in recent years, putting more pressure on families and seniors living on fixed incomes. Rising housing costs, food prices, and utilities are already stretching budgets thin, and additional taxes only make it harder for residents to afford to stay in Fairfax County. Instead of increasing taxes, the Board should prioritize managing spending and addressing everyday community needs like traffic, schools, and public safety.