Democratic senator says Trump’s plan to ‘cripple our democracy’ underway

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.) said President-elect Trump’s plan to “cripple our democracy” is already underway.

In a lengthy post thread on social platform X on Tuesday, Murphy argued that it’s “happening right in front of our eyes” and has “accelerated rapidly” over the last 24 hours.

“Can I take a minute to connect the dots – on how Trump is putting into action a plan to cripple our democracy in a way we may never recover from?” Murphy said.

The senator was responding to a post from the Committee on House Administration's Oversight Subcommittee, which detailed a GOP-led report that recommended a criminal investigation into former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who sat on the House panel on the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

“He wasn’t kidding when he said Democrats were the no. 1 threat to America and needed to be dealt with by law enforcement and the military,” Murphy posted. “Today House Republican’s referral of Liz Cheney for criminal prosecution – on made up charges – shows you the plan.”

Concerns about Trump potentially prosecuting his enemies have been heightened as he prepares to take office again. The president-elect has claimed members of the Jan. 6 committee, who investigated his involvement in the riot, should “go to jail” for their work.

Murphy questioned who would stand up for Cheney and the others Trump plans to prosecute. He argued that Trump loyalist Kash Patel, whom the president-elect has nominated to lead the FBI, will not.

“Kash Patel was chosen to lead the FBI BECAUSE he wants to prosecute Trump’s opponents,” Murphy said, adding that the courts likely can’t stand up for such targets either, because the Department of Justice can “handpick a jurisdiction” with a Trump-affiliated judge for the various cases.

“Not every Trump opponent will fold, but many will. If you have a family at home, are you really going to stand up to Trump if there’s a chance you could end up in jail?” Murphy posted. “History shows that selective prosecution of a regime’s opposition has a broad chilling effect.”

Murphy also highlighted Trump’s ongoing legal battles with the media.

The president-elect filed a lawsuit Tuesday against The Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer over a survey released before Election Day that found him trailing Vice President Harris in Iowa.

Murphy said it was “stunning” that Trump filed the lawsuit because he didn’t like the poll’s results and argued that “we shouldn’t pretend this is normal.”

The president-elect also recently settled a defamation lawsuit he brought against ABC News for $15 million with the network after anchor George Stephanopoulos said on air that Trump had been found liable for rape. A jury found Trump sexually abused and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll, but not that he was liable for rape. The settlement has been widely questioned and criticized.

Murphy also highlighted The Washington Post’s controversial decision not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 race.

The senator noted that Trump has claimed he would use the Federal Election Commission to intimate news organizations. Media companies have already shown that they are “reluctant to put up a fight” against Trump, Murphy argued.

“Is there a chance this is all show and bluster? Maybe, but the developments of just the last few days – ABC’s bogus settlement, the referral of Cheney for prosecution, Trump’s suit against the Register – all point to this being very, very real,” Murphy concluded.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team for comment.