Raskin Rejects Concern Democrats Will Focus on Trump Investigations
Raskin made the remarks during an interview with Brianna Keilar on CNN. Keilar cited Adam Hamilton, a newly elected Democratic senator, who said he hoped to avoid devoting the coming two years to court proceedings involving the Trump administration. She said other incoming Democrats had expressed similar concerns and asked whether they might be disappointed by the time spent on investigations.
Raskin called the concern a media “narrative.” Keilar replied that she was quoting Hamilton and repeated her question. Raskin answered that Democrats would have enough committees and a capable new class of representatives and senators to handle multiple priorities.
He said Democrats would seek to restore Medicaid, Affordable Care Act coverage and food benefits through SNAP. He also called for ending tariffs he described as “ruinous” and lowering prices, and said lawmakers could work together on a plan to withdraw from the Iran conflict.
Raskin argued that corruption and affordability were connected issues. Separately, Sen. Bernie Sanders said Democrats should hold the Trump administration accountable for corruption and actions he characterized as illegal and unconstitutional, but warned against focusing only on investigations. Sanders pointed to child and senior poverty and risks from artificial intelligence as issues requiring congressional attention.
Raskin Says Democrats Can Investigate Trump and Deliver on Priorities
Rep. Jamie Raskin pushed back against the suggestion that investigations of the Trump administration would consume Democrats’ agenda, saying the party’s incoming lawmakers could take on several priorities at once.
Asked about Sen.-elect Adam Hamilton’s wish not to spend two years in trials involving the administration, Raskin called the concern a media “narrative.” CNN host Brianna Keilar noted she was quoting Hamilton and asked whether other Democrats might share his concern. Raskin replied that Democrats would have many committees and a strong new class of lawmakers.
He said they would work to restore Medicaid, Affordable Care Act coverage and SNAP benefits, lower prices by ending tariffs he called ruinous, and develop a plan to withdraw from the Iran conflict. He framed corruption and affordability as connected concerns.
Sen. Bernie Sanders likewise argued for accountability over corruption and actions he called illegal and unconstitutional, while cautioning that investigations must not crowd out urgent issues such as poverty and the effects of artificial intelligence. Treating oversight and bread-and-butter priorities as mutually exclusive would overlook the agenda Raskin says Democrats can pursue together.
Raskin Dismisses Democrats’ Own Warning About Trump Investigations
Rep. Jamie Raskin tried to wave away a question about Democrats’ plans for the Trump administration as a media “narrative.” But CNN host Brianna Keilar had just cited Adam Hamilton, a newly elected Democratic senator, saying he hoped to avoid devoting the coming two years to court proceedings involving the administration.
Keilar made clear she was quoting Hamilton and asked whether other incoming Democrats might be disappointed by the time spent on investigations. Raskin said Democrats would have enough committees and lawmakers to take on investigations alongside other work.
He listed restoring Medicaid, Affordable Care Act coverage and SNAP benefits, ending tariffs, lowering prices and developing a plan to withdraw from the Iran conflict. His answer made the dispute less about whether Democrats have other priorities than whether concerns raised by one of their own can fairly be brushed off as a media-created story.
Sen. Bernie Sanders has also urged Democrats not to focus solely on investigating Trump, even while backing accountability for corruption and actions he called illegal and unconstitutional. His warning underscores the tension: Democrats say they can do it all, but their own allies are cautioning against letting investigations dominate.
Reported by Twitchy, Fox News.
