Americans expect and deserve an independent Department of Justice to enforce our nation’s laws free from political interference from the White House. Reported White House interference, including by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, offends the rule of law and must stop immediately. This interference is not appropriate at any time but certainly not when the Administration itself is under investigation.

Today, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, ruled the state’s extreme partisan political gerrymander in violation of the state constitution and ordered districts redrawn by February 9, 2018. Common Cause helped to recruit the plaintiffs in the case and filed an amicus brief, which offered alternative constitutional maps, drawn by a panel of experts, that the legislature can utilize to meet the court deadline. Despite a roughly equal split in votes between the parties in each election since the 2011 redistricting, Republicans have consistently won 13 of the state’s 18 congressional seats.

Today, Common Cause filed complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that the payment of $130,000 to Stephanie Clifford (a.k.a. Stormy Daniels), through an LLC, was an unreported in-kind contribution to President Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign committee in violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act.

Today the U.S. Supreme Court in Common Cause v. Rucho denied a stay request from North Carolina legislators ordered by a federal court to redraw the state’s unconstitutionally gerrymandered congressional districts by January 24, 2018. The stay was requested pending the Supreme Court’s ruling in two redistricting challenges before the Court.

Every Pennsylvanian deserves a representative voice in Washington. Unfortunately our congressional delegation does not reflect the citizens of the Commonwealth because of the legislators who drew the maps for purely partisan gain.

Today, Common Cause filed a brief in Common Cause v. Rucho urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a stay request of a federal court ruling which ordered that the North Carolina Legislature redraw the state’s unconstitutionally gerrymandered congressional districts by January 24. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina Middle District ruled last week that the Legislature had unconstitutionally drawn congressional district lines with the intent and effect of creating a severe partisan advantage for one side.