Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said that recent Justice Department and Supreme Court actions are enabling autocratic moves by former President Donald Trump.
These warnings highlight a growing concern among legal experts that the erosion of institutional norms, and the weakening of voting protections, could fundamentally alter the American democratic process.
Holder, who served as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States [1], said the current legal environment is not only abnormal but dangerous. He specifically pointed to actions taken by the Justice Department and the Supreme Court that he believes facilitate a shift toward autocratic governance.
According to Holder, certain recent judicial and departmental decisions constitute a massive blow against the Voting Rights Act. He said these moves undermine the legal protections designed to ensure fair and equitable access to the ballot for all citizens.
Holder also addressed the reopening of specific investigations, including the probe into former FBI Director James Comey. He said that reviving such inquiries serves to further the goals of former President Trump rather than the interests of impartial justice.
As the chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, Holder continues to monitor the intersection of judicial rulings and electoral law. He said the current trajectory of the Justice Department signals a departure from standard legal protocols, a trend he views as a threat to the rule of law.
“Not only is it not normal, it is dangerous.”
The critique from a former Attorney General underscores a significant ideological rift regarding the role of the Justice Department. By linking the reopening of old probes and the scaling back of the Voting Rights Act to 'autocratic' behavior, Holder is framing these legal shifts not as policy disagreements, but as a systemic dismantling of democratic checks and balances.
