A US political commentator and animal rights author has called on Democratic presidential hopefuls to adopt a firmer approach to legal accountability and democratic safeguards as the party begins to look toward the 2028 primary contest.
Jon Hochschartner, a Connecticut-based writer, argued that Democratic candidates should be clear about supporting investigations and enforcement of existing laws where warranted, rather than focusing solely on political reconciliation after periods of intense partisanship.
In a statement circulated online, Hochschartner said: “The next Democratic president will need to ruthlessly prosecute the fascist criminality of President Donald Trump’s administration. Any progressive candidate who isn’t prepared to do that should do us all a favor and not bother running in the 2028 primary. I will be assessing the Democratic field on a number of important issues. However, the politician who convincingly pledges to lock up as many officials in Trump’s White House as possible will go a long way to earning my vote.”
His remarks reflect a broader debate within progressive circles over how Democrats should respond to allegations of wrongdoing by senior officials and how to strengthen checks and balances in US government. Some activists argue that a more assertive approach is necessary to deter future abuses of power, while others caution that prosecutorial decisions should remain insulated from electoral politics.
Hochschartner framed his argument in generational terms, saying he believes Republican politics has shifted steadily to the right over the course of his lifetime and that Democrats have often failed to respond with sufficient urgency.
“As a millennial, Republicans have been moving further and further right and flouting the law with increasing frequency for my entire life. American conservatives have learned there is quite literally nothing they could do that would make establishment Democrats speak above an inside voice, let alone hold Republican malfeasance to account. Now our democracy is at the brink. The Trump administration is occupying liberal cities and the leaders of the so-called opposition party are nowhere to be found.”
He also criticised what he described as a tendency among some Democrats to emphasise unity and forward-looking messaging rather than revisiting past controversies, arguing that such an approach risks leaving key questions unanswered.
“Any Democratic presidential candidate who suggests they might ‘turn the page’ or ‘look forward, not backward’ when it comes to fascist crimes should be laughed off the debate stage. We’ve seen that approach before, most recently under President Joe Biden’s administration. Of course, by not vigorously prosecuting Trump and his goons, Biden allowed them to return to power and wreak the havoc we’re experiencing now. We will be lucky to escape the current authoritarian moment.”
While Hochschartner’s language is strongly worded, his central demand is for a Democratic platform that emphasises the rule of law, transparency, and robust oversight of executive power. Those themes are likely to feature in 2028 campaign debates, particularly as candidates compete for support among younger voters and progressive activists.
In addition to calls for accountability, Hochschartner said Democrats should pursue institutional reforms aimed at reducing political gridlock and improving public trust in government. He highlighted proposals such as granting statehood to Puerto Rico and Washington, DC, and expanding the Supreme Court — ideas that have gained traction in some parts of the party but face significant political and constitutional obstacles.
“There are a number of ways Democrats might seek to ensure this crisis doesn’t happen again. For instance, they should add liberal-leaning states to the union, like Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Similarly, they must expand the Supreme Court, which will remain hopelessly partisan and corrupt absent intervention. However, there can be no serious effort to beat back the fascist threat that doesn’t include putting the authoritarian lawbreakers now occupying the White House behind bars.”
Hochschartner acknowledged the sensitivity of linking criminal justice outcomes to political campaigns, but said he believes future Democratic leaders should clearly communicate support for enforcing laws and preventing abuses of office.
“This is regrettable. I don’t like to wish prison on anyone. That said, people like Trump, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and so many others have made clear they won’t respond to reason or moral appeals. They can’t be shamed. They will never stop. They can only be stopped. It’s up to the next Democratic president to communicate with them in the only language they understand, which is raw power.”
The author also used the statement to highlight policy goals he believes would be difficult to pursue in a highly polarised political environment. As an animal activist, he said he wants greater federal investment in cultivated meat — a technology that grows animal protein from livestock cells and is promoted by supporters as a way to reduce slaughter and lower the environmental footprint of meat production.
“The anti-fascist coalition has a wide variety of policy goals. For example, as an animal activist, I want to see a massive infusion of federal funding into cultivated-meat research. The new protein is grown from livestock cells, without slaughter. I view accelerating the scientific development of cultivated meat as the most promising means of reducing nonhuman suffering and premature death. However, none of our aims can be achieved under the right-wing dictatorship Trump is trying to build.”
Hochschartner also pointed to the practical challenges of holding officials accountable, including the scope of executive power and the possibility of pardons, while noting that legal decisions ultimately sit with prosecutors and courts.
“Serious Democratic presidential candidates should be competing over who has the best plan to put the largest number of criminal fascist leaders in prison. Trump will likely pardon himself and everyone in his orbit before leaving office. I’m not a lawyer, so I can’t speak to the best way to work around this. Maybe these pardons could be ignored. Perhaps Trump and his allies could be prosecuted at the state level or turned over to the International Criminal Court. But they must face justice.”
Hochschartner lives in Connecticut and is the author of several books, including The Animals’ Freedom Fighter: A Biography of Ronnie Lee, Founder of the Animal Liberation Front.
