Jamie Raskin Warns Restoring DOJ After Trump Will Take a Generation

Rep. Jamie Raskin delivered a stark warning about the scale of damage the Trump administration inflicted on the Department of Justice, declaring its restoration a generational task. Speaking on MSNBC’s MS NOW, the Maryland Democrat and constitutional expert described how the DOJ was systematically dismantled and politicized under Trump, leaving it ill-equipped to serve justice or protect democracy.

Raskin emphasized that Trump’s DOJ abandoned core responsibilities, including enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and monitoring foreign interference in U.S. elections. “They want to facilitate all of that,” he said, accusing the administration of actively enabling foreign subversion rather than preventing it.

The politicization extended to the pardon process, which Raskin said was deliberately gutted to become a “totally political operation run out of the White House and Donald Trump’s brain.” This blatant corruption of a key justice function exemplifies the broader rot Trump installed at the heart of government.

When asked about impeachment, Raskin aligned with Democratic leaders in rejecting it as a futile distraction while Republicans control Congress. “Our problem isn’t Trump anymore. Our problem is Trumpism and the whole MAGA domination of the government,” he said, framing the issue as a systemic takeover that converted government into a tool for corporate profit and personal enrichment.

Raskin’s vision goes beyond holding Trump accountable personally. He called for a “sweeping de-Trumpification” of government institutions to restore them as instruments of the common good and constitutional democracy. “That’s the work of a generation,” he said, warning that even if Democrats regain the House, Senate, and White House, repair will take years.

Highlighting recent Democratic wins in states like Virginia, New Jersey, California, and Texas, Raskin expressed cautious optimism about building a mass movement to reclaim American government. “We are in a mass movement to reclaim American government and to defend and rehabilitate our constitution against these people,” he concluded.

Raskin’s blunt assessment underscores the depth of institutional damage wrought by Trump’s tenure and the long road ahead for those committed to restoring accountability, democratic norms, and the rule of law. This is not just about one man’s misdeeds — it’s about reversing a systemic corruption that threatens the very foundations of American democracy.