Ty Cobb, a former attorney in the Trump White House, issued a stark warning on Sunday, stating that Donald Trump's ongoing assaults on the judicial system now represent one of the most significant dangers to American democracy.
A System Under Siege
Appearing on MSNBC's "The Weekend," Cobb, who served during Trump's first term, argued that Congress has been effectively "neutered" by its own inaction and by ceding control to the former president. He claimed that Trump now "dictates everything" that House Speaker Mike Johnson does, describing this dynamic as tragic.
Cobb explained that the constitutional design intended Congress, not the courts, to be the primary check on a rogue president. He emphasized that Congress possesses immense power, including the authority to impeach, control spending, and declare war. However, he lamented that lawmakers have "handed it to Trump in a basket with a bow on it," a surrender he views as extremely dangerous for the nation.
The Limits of the Judiciary
The legal expert detailed the inherent limitations of the courts in this political battle. He noted that judges cannot rule based on what is "best for America," but must strictly interpret what the Constitution requires. Cobb expressed a grave concern that the Constitution "is not adequate to deal with a president as evil as Trump is," specifically one whose apparent goal is to accumulate and abuse power.
By persistently denigrating the judiciary, Cobb asserted that Trump is strategically attempting to weaken one of the last remaining institutions standing in the way of his authoritarian ambitions.
Unprecedented Constitutional Stress
Cobb characterized this conflict as a "very dangerous war for us all." He stressed that a robust and independent judiciary is more critical than ever, given the extreme constitutional stresses and what he described as Trump's "unprecedented" abuses of power.
The analysis from the former insider paints a picture of a democratic system where key checks and balances have faltered, leaving the courts as a fragile final bulwark against a potential slide into authoritarianism.
