Press Contacts:
Jordan Wilhelmi, jordan@unbendablemedia.com
David Coy, editor@sfbar.org, 510-333-7249
Nation of Laws Coalition Condemns Presidential Demands to Prosecute Political Opponents
September 23, 2025
The Nation of Laws Coalition strongly condemns President Trump's unprecedented public demands that Attorney General Pam Bondi prosecute his political opponents, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey, and Senator Adam Schiff. The President's social media post from Saturday, September 20 ordering the Attorney General to indict these individuals represents a brazen assault on the independence of the Department of Justice and the foundational principle that prosecutorial decisions must be based on evidence and law, not political vendettas. The President's firing of U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert for refusing to bring charges against James without sufficient evidence, combined with his installation of loyalists to carry out these prosecutions, marks a dangerous escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement. A nation governed by laws, not the whims of those in power, cannot survive when the Executive Branch transforms the justice system into an instrument of political retribution.
“The President’s public demands that the Attorney General prosecute his political enemies without regard for evidence represents the exact threat to democratic governance that we have been warning about. When prosecutors are fired for upholding their oath to pursue justice based on evidence rather than political pressure, we have abandoned the rule of law entirely. This is not law enforcement—it is the weaponization of federal power against those who dare to hold the powerful accountable, and it demands immediate condemnation from every American who believes in constitutional government.”
“The President’s demands that the nation’s top law enforcement officer target individuals based on political opposition and the firing of a top prosecutor for allegedly failing to bring charges against a political enemy despite a lack of evidence is nothing short of authoritarian. It is a chilling attempt to subvert the independence of the U.S. Department of Justice for personal and political gain—precisely what our constitutional system was designed to prevent. Although the DOJ is part of the executive branch and the Attorney General is appointed by the president, the department has—since its inception—operated independently of political pressure in its law enforcement and prosecutorial decisions. Our system of justice works because of its independence, transparency, and fairness.”
“As President of the National Bar Association, I cannot remain silent when the rule of law is under direct attack. The justice system must serve the people, not the personal grievances of any one leader. Our nation’s credibility rests on an independent judiciary and prosecutorial process guided by evidence and the Constitution. We call on every lawyer, judge, and public servant to stand firm against this dangerous precedent and to safeguard the principles that ensure equal justice under law.”
“A federal prosecutor has the responsibility not merely of an advocate, but of a minister of justice. For this reason, ethical prosecutors refuse to bring charges that are not supported by probable cause. Here, a U.S. Attorney has resigned reportedly because he does not believe any probable cause exists to justify a certain case. Nevertheless, the President demands that very prosecution. These facts do not inspire confidence. Before charging anyone with a crime, DOJ lawyers should ask, would this prosecution be in the interests of our true client, the American people? Or is this case an act of presidential malice?”
““The President’s directive to prosecute political opponents is a brazen assault on the independence of the Department of Justice. When the prosecutorial power of the state is wielded for political retribution rather than to pursue evidence-based justice, the rule of law itself is endangered. The Bar Association of San Francisco condemns this abuse of power and stands with the brave prosecutors who uphold their oath to the Constitution over the demands of any single individual.”
“Criminal investigations must be free from political inference and bias. It is critical that the Justice Department remain independent to uphold the rule of law and freedom from persecution. Without neutral administration of justice, there can be no fair trials; no unprejudiced case outcomes. The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers condemns politically-motivated prosecutions in all forms, and urges the DOJ to resist political pressure. To pursue cases at the direction of the President is an affront to the ideals of a fair criminal legal system.”
“It should go without saying that for our democracy to survive, the enforcement of its laws must be impartial and based on the rule of law. When law enforcement becomes a weapon for political revenge, none of us are safe. Enough is enough. We will not stand idly by while the President coerces the nation’s top law enforcement officer to abuse prosecutorial power by punishing his political opponents. We will not simply watch as the core principles of fairness, due process and fundamental justice are snatched from the American people. We will fight to defend the independence of institutions that exist to protect all Americans equally under the law. We will not back down until true law and order are restored.”
“Today we reaffirm that the Department of Justice must wield the immense weight of prosecutorial power fairly, guided by the rule of law, not vendettas. The president’s warping of the Department of Justice into a tool for seeking political revenge, rather than justice and the wellbeing of the American people, threatens us all. A vibrant, healthy democracy is marked by fundamental fairness and the freedom to criticize and legally oppose the government — without fear of retribution and imprisonment. Wielding criminal prosecutorial power to put down opposition, and acting to force public servants to break with ethics and integrity or be fired, weaken the country and endanger its people.”
“In places where the rule of law prevails, political leaders are not permitted to use baseless criminal prosecutions to attack their political opponents. It remains to be seen whether the United States remains such a place under the rule of a wanna be dictator and a political party that has abandoned its founding principles.”
“What is most disturbing is not simply that a President would demand prosecutions of his political adversaries in plain violation of law, ethics, and precedent, but that this has become a subject for public debate at all. In a functioning democracy, the independence of prosecutors from partisan command would be assumed, not contested. The very fact that we must now argue over whether the Attorney General should resist “orders” to indict political opponents is itself a measure of how impoverished and desperate our political terrain has become.
The same could be said of the spectacle of debating whether troops might be sent to occupy cities with unfriendly mayors, or whether individuals suspected of being undocumented should be summarily expelled without due process. These are not questions that a healthy constitutional order would ever place on the table. That they are now live controversies is evidence of how fragile our democratic guardrails have become—and how urgent the task of defending them remains.”
“President Trump’s direction to prosecute his political opponents is a textbook authoritarian move. Known as ‘capturing the referees,’ authoritarians install allies in judicial and law enforcement positions and then use that takeover to consolidate power: ‘Capturing the referees provides the government with more than a shield. It also offers a powerful weapon, allowing the government to selectively enforce the law, punishing opponents while protecting allies.’ (Steven Levitsky, Daniel Ziblatt, How Democracies Die). These actions are signs of a democracy under severe threat. They must be exposed and resisted at every turn.”
The Nation of Laws Coalition is a non-partisan alliance of legal organizations and advocates dedicated to upholding the rule of law, judicial independence, and the independence of the legal profession.