It’s a shocking moment in American history: the former President has been indicted on a long list of Federal charges including conspiracy, making false statements, obstruction of justice, and retaining classified documents under the Espionage Act. But already, MAGA leadership is out with statements of support for Trump and attacking the Department of Justice, some even calling for President Biden’s arrest. So it’s on us to ask our Members of Congress: are you going to prioritize party loyalty, or our national security and the rule of law?
Indivisible Unpacked
Birddog Your Republican Rep About the Trump Indictment
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Download Now!Now in Key Questions
Key questions to ask:
Will you support Trump as the nominee if he is under indictment for crimes against our national security?
If Trump is elected in 2024, he could potentially pardon himself in relation to this indictment and even future indictments. Do you support Trump pardoning himself for these and other potential criminal charges?
What is the line for your support for Trump? Is there anything he could do that would cost him support from you and the MAGA Republican party?
Do you believe that someone who’s been indicted for endangering our national security and willfully breaking the law deserves to be President of the United States?
What’s more important – party loyalty, or national security?
Trump was recorded on tape boasting about secret classified documents that he retained, and appeared to show them to people who didn’t have security clearance to view them. How is that not a threat to our country?
Trump has been charged with Conspiracy – that’s working with others in order to break the law. When Republican party leaders (or ‘you’, if appropriate!) support Trump without having seen the charges, aren’t you supporting that conspiracy?
“No one is above the law” is a cornerstone of our legal system, but Kevin McCarthy and Republican leadership immediately attacked the Trump indictment as “political” — even though Trump was indicted by a grand jury of everyday Floridians. Do you believe that our laws apply to Trump? If not, are other elected officials also permanently immune from prosecution?
Now in How to Birddog
How to Birddog
Show up at public events where your Representative will be and ask a tough question. Force them to take a position or make it clear they’re deflecting reasonable questions from constituents, get it on video, and get that video everywhere you can from social media to local print, radio, and TV news.
Recruit and train your crew. You need at least two people: one to talk, one to film, but the more people asking questions the better!
Find opportunities and practice your questions.
Attend the event & get them on record. Be PERSISTENT — they answer to you!
Get footage up on social media and out to local media. Tag everyone, esp. @IndivisibleTeam!
No opportunity to birddog? Use versions of these questions in creative ways:
- Call in to local talk radio
- Ask Qs in the chat for online events
- Ask on the MoC’s social media channels
- Make posters or stickers