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Five Questions with Kristy Parker, Special Counsel at Protect Democracy

Joyce Vance

Apr 13

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On their website, the advocacy group Protect Democracy warns that democracy is in danger but tells readers that “Together, we can preserve democracy for future generations.” The group is nonpartisan and cross-ideological.

Kristy Parker is a Special Counsel with Protect Democracy. Previously, she served in trial attorney and leadership roles for 15 years in DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and for four years in the Torts Branch of DOJ’s Civil Division. After graduating from Harvard Law School, she clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Pictured: Kristy in her natural habitat, Nats Park. KPNatsFan is her Twitter handle.

Kristy’s skilled hand has guided some of Protect Democracy’s recent work in the area of election-related prosecutions, which has special importance as we approach the first criminal trial of a former president on Monday. Protect Democracy published an analysis called Prosecuting Political Leaders During an Election, A framework for understanding when it’s appropriate to prosecute a candidate for public office.

Trump and his followers call it “election interference” when any prosecutor indicts him, despite protections including the requirement that a grand jury review the evidence and find probable cause exists before they can indict. So, this is a good time for us to discuss whether that’s true. Kristy discusses the essential facts, law, and analysis necessary to push back when Trump supporters call prosecuting him a witch hunt—which it most certainly isn’t! We’re lucky to have her with us as our guest tonight. You’ll go away from this one armed with the best arguments for rejecting the nonsense Trump is trying to convince the country of.

No matter what he says, prosecutions are not election interference, and after reading “Five Questions With” tonight, you’ll know exactly why.

“Five Questions With” is a special edition of Civil Discourse for paid subscribers only. The rest of the newsletter is available to everyone. Five Questions is my way of saying thank you to those of you who can support this work with paid subscriptions so I can keep it free for everyone.