In a surprising move, a dozen Republican lawyers who served under Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election. The lawyers cited concerns about former President Donald Trump's potential return to office, arguing that it would threaten American democracy and undermine the rule of law.
A dozen Republican lawyers who served in previous administrations have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election. The lawyers, all of whom have experience working on national security and legal issues, released a letter on Friday endorsing Harris and expressing concerns about the potential consequences of former President Donald Trump's return to office.
Republican Lawyers Endorse Kamala Harris in 2024 Presidential Race
"We endorse Kamala Harris and support her election as President because we believe that returning former President Trump to office would threaten American democracy and undermine the rule of law in our country," the lawyers wrote in their letter.
The signatories to the letter include Michael Luttig, the prominent right-of-center legal scholar and retired federal appeals court judge who previously served as assistant counsel to the president in the Reagan White House. Luttig made headlines at the start of the Democratic National Convention by endorsing Harris as the Democrats' nominee.
Republican Lawyers Endorse Kamala Harris in 2024 Presidential Race
Other signatories include John B. Bellinger III, Senior Associate Counsel to the President and Legal Adviser to the NSC under George W. Bush; Phillip D. Brady, Deputy Counsel to the President under Reagan; Benedict S. Cohen, Associate Counsel to the President under Reagan; Peter D. Keisler, Associate Counsel to the President under Reagan; and Robert M. Kruger, Associate Counsel to the President under Reagan.
The lawyers expressed concerns about Trump's attempts to reverse the results of the 2020 election, arguing that they proved beyond any reasonable doubt his willingness to place his personal interests above the law and values of American democracy.
Republican Lawyers Endorse Kamala Harris in 2024 Presidential Race
"We cannot go along with other former Republican officials who have condemned Trump with these devastating judgments but are still not willing to vote for Harris," they added. "We believe this election presents a binary choice, and Trump is utterly disqualified."
The endorsement is a significant development in the 2024 presidential race, as it suggests that some Republicans are willing to break with their party to support Harris. The campaign has been making efforts to court Republican voters who are disaffected with Trump.
Republican Lawyers Endorse Kamala Harris in 2024 Presidential Race
The Harris campaign showcased Republicans who are supporting the vice president during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week. Among them were former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.
Trump's campaign has not yet responded to the endorsement, but he has previously dismissed Republicans who have criticized him as "RINO"s (Republicans in name only). The endorsement is likely to further fuel tensions within the Republican Party, which has been divided over Trump's legacy.
