Rep. Madeleine Dean: It's time for an impeachment inquiry Opinion

Philadelphia Inquirer

“The rule of law” can sound abstract and distant – but President Trump’s contempt for the concept illustrates why it matters.

On the House Judiciary Committee where I serve, we have worked to secure the release of the Mueller Report to learn precisely how Russia interfered with our 2016 election – and how President Trump repeatedly attempted to abuse his power and obstruct Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s sweeping behavior.

Unfortunately, the President has called upon his entire administration to break the law and ignore Congressional subpoenas – not just on Russia, but in every area of Congressional oversight, including the administration’s cruel family separation policy and its cynical effort to distort the Census and disenfranchise millions of Americans. The President’s logic echoes Nixon: “when the President does it, that means it is not illegal.” It is also wrong.

Our oversight work is not about partisanship or keeping score. It is about protecting our democracy against a foreign adversary that continues to attack us daily. More broadly, it is about defending the principle that no one is above the law – especially not a President.