Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy has warned that President-elect Donald Trump's plans to undermine US democracy are already being put into action. In a series of posts on X, Murphy argued that recent developments, including a Republican report recommending criminal investigation of former Representative Liz Cheney, signal the start of a concerted effort to cripple democratic institutions.
Murphy pointed to the House Administration's Oversight Subcommittee report, which recommends that Cheney be investigated for her work on the January 6 Select Committee. Trump has previously said that members of that committee should 'go to jail'. Murphy noted that Trump's nominee to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, was chosen because he wants to prosecute Trump's opponents, and that a compliant Department of Justice could handpick a jurisdiction with a sympathetic judge.
The senator also highlighted Trump's legal actions against the media, including a lawsuit against The Des Moines Register and a recent $15 million settlement with ABC News. Murphy argued that these actions are intended to intimidate the press, and that media companies are already showing reluctance to resist. He quoted Trump as saying he brought a case against a journalist 'to make his life miserable'.
Murphy said that while there is a chance it could be 'show and bluster', the recent lawsuits and the Cheney referral suggest the threat is very real. He called on the public to recognise the pattern and warned of a 'broad chilling effect' on opposition to Trump.
