President Trump Threatens Non-Profit In Retaliation for Effort to Hold Him Accountable
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Trump threatened to weaponize the IRS against the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), claiming the group was “going after Donald Trump.” CREW is a partner to Public Citizen in our lawsuit against Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for unlawfully removing and ceasing to operate a public database that breaks down how the administration is allocating federal funds.
In response to Trump’s comments, Public Citizen co-presidents Lisa Gilbert and Robert Weissman issued the following statement:
“Americans’ most cherished freedom is that we have a right to say what we believe without fear of governmental persecution.
“President Trump’s comments threatening the charitable status of CREW because of the views the organization has expressed is a direct assault on that most cherished of freedoms.
“The threat is not just to CREW, but to any and all of us.
“We proudly stand in solidarity with our friends at CREW in rejecting President Trump’s threat to weaponize the IRS against those with whom he disagrees. And we would equally stand in solidarity with any individual, organization or university so targeted, no matter their views.
“We call on all Americans to stand together against the clear and present danger posed by President Trump to our democracy, and to join together to reaffirm the core American ideal that we are free to speak our minds, no matter our viewpoint or disagreement with those in power.”