The Rule of Law Project: New Effort Launched to Probe Corruption & State Violence in U.S.

Democrats secured an incoming majority in the midterm elections with clear intentions to increase oversight and investigations into President Trump and administration officials.

Following the election results, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Congressmember Robert Garcia, released a statement simply telling officials to “Lawyer up.”

The White House responded sharply on Monday when top White House lawyer Will Scharf sent Garcia a letter warning that Democrats’ language and plans for investigations and subpoenas “may cross the line into blatant criminality.” Scharf wrote that “The Administration will not be extorted and will not be cowed by unlawful process motivated by animus, pettiness, hatred, or any other unlawful motive,” as reported by Democracy Now!.

Brad Adams, co-founder of The Rule of Law Project, called the White House warning a bit rich given that the oversight function of Congress is well established by the founders. Adams said that the separation of powers requires oversight.

“There has to be a clear legislative purpose,” Adams said of the limits on oversight established by a 2020 Supreme Court ruling.

Adams pointed out that Representative Garcia’s proposals possess that exact purpose: ensuring corruption does not go unchecked, examining ICE violence, killings, beatings on the streets, and custodial mistreatment in ICE detention facilities.

Former federal civil rights and corruption prosecutors and investigators formed The Rule of Law Project because the Department of Justice has made it clear it will not investigate administration officials. Adams said that the organization will provide prosecution-ready cases to state and local prosecutors, as well as to the DOJ once a new government takes office after the 2028 election.

“We shouldn’t have to do this,” said Adams, former Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

The newly formed project is already in communication with congressional oversight committees. Adams confirmed he has talked to the House Judiciary Committee, which is currently on a hiring spree.

“If Stephen Miller is brought before a committee, needs a lawyer, he’s going to have to find outside counsel,” Adams told Democracy Now!