Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin appeared on CNN on Monday and made a remarkable claim with a straight face. According to Raskin, Democrats do not engage in political retribution or revenge against their opponents.

That declaration clashes sharply with Raskin’s own recent rhetoric. Just last month, the congressman was already eager at the prospect of impeaching President Trump again, hardly the posture of someone preparing to leave partisan battles behind.

Political revenge has become part of the Democrat brand, particularly when Trump is involved. Democrats have waged a relentless political campaign against him since he defeated Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.

During his CNN appearance, Raskin accused Republicans of projection. The accusation was rich coming from a prominent Democrat, as he insisted that his party would never pursue the kind of retribution it routinely accuses Republicans of planning.

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Raskin centered his argument on the Trump Justice Department and attempts to bring charges against Trump’s opponents. He claimed numerous grand juries had rejected cases sought by the department.

Raskin said, “The line is essentially between everything that happened on Tuesday after, from what happened before, because the entire Trump Department of Justice has been based on the principle of revenge and retribution against Donald Trump’s enemies.”

He continued, “19 different grand juries have refused to bring charges against people that they wanted to bring charges against.”

Raskin then listed several political figures and former officials. “We’re talking about James Comey, Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).”

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Raskin also cited Cassidy Hutchinson and one of his constituents. “It just happened the other day with Cassidy Hutchinson. It happened to one of my constituents; they tried to set up on the Reflecting Pool job.”

After presenting those examples, Raskin delivered his broad denial of Democrat retribution. “Again, nothing like this in American history has ever happened before. We’re not going to engage in any retribution.”

He doubled down on that promise, saying, “We’re not going to engage in any revenge. That’s not our vision of criminal justice, much less is it our vision of the legislative role.”

Raskin again accused Republicans of projecting their own approach onto Democrats. “They’re projecting their complete public philosophy of the Justice Department onto us. We don’t engage in retribution and revenge.”

The congressman then portrayed Democrats as guardians of legal integrity. “We uphold and defend the rule of law. If they engage in criminality, if they engage in corruption, they will be exposed and ferreted out.”

Raskin finished his point with another assurance aimed at those who follow the law. “If they’re engaged in the rule of law, they’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Western Lensman highlighted the CNN remarks in a post dated November 10, 2026, writing that the denial nearly caused a spit take. The post featured Raskin declaring that Democrats do not engage in revenge and instead uphold the rule of law.

Jamie Raskin wants America to know that Democrats would never, ever consider going after their political opponents for revenge.

"We don't engage in retribution and revenge. We uphold and defend the rule of law." Just about spit my drink out. https://t.co/wbQs4dkas4 — Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) November 10, 2026

Yet Raskin’s own remarks from an MSNOW appearance five days earlier provided an awkward contrast. During that appearance, he said Democrats planned to go after corporations and law firms that “collaborated,” “capitulated” and “surrendered” to Trump.

Jamie Raskin promises Democrats will be going after corporations and law firms that "collaborated," "capitulated" and "surrendered" to Trump.

Translation: We will try to destroy any company or firm that dared to work with the Trump administration. Examples must be made for defying the will of the Democrat party. It was all about healthcare and affordability, you guys. — Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) November 5, 2026

Western Lensman characterized that message as a threat to destroy companies or firms that dared to work with the Trump administration. The contrast left Raskin’s sweeping denial looking less like a credible principle and more like an exercise in peak partisan projection.

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