Elżbieta Januszkiewicz

I know Hakeem Jeffries has many passionate supporters, and I respect that. He’s an effective communicator and has served Democrats well in many respects. But I have serious reservations about his becoming Speaker. My greatest concern is one we cannot afford to overlook: presidential succession. Given the possibility of vacancies in BOTH the presidency and vice presidency, our next Speaker could conceivably become President of the United States. That possibility demands an entirely different level of scrutiny. I’m also gravely concerned about his ties to AIPAC and support for 🇮🇱. I question whether Jeffries has the resolve and independence this extraordinary moment requires. His longstanding preference for compromise and political diplomacy concerns me, particularly when dealing with an administration that has repeatedly demonstrated its disregard for accountability. An administration that lies, deceives and corrupts cannot and should not be negotiated with. We can pursue meaningful legislation AND investigate corruption. We can govern AND enforce the rule of law. Accountability is not revenge, and moving forward does not mean looking the other way. I respect those who support Jeffries. But I believe this moment calls for a different kind of leadership. The stakes are simply too high to treat the speakership as business as usual. People voted blue for consequences, not concessions.