Jamie Raskin

Jamie Raskin
Born	Jamin Ben Raskin 13 12, 1962
Birthplace	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, law professor, politician
Known for	Lead impeachment manager for the second impeachment of Donald Trump; constitutional law scholarship; co-founding the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project
Education	Harvard University (BA, JD)
Children	3
Website	[https://jamieraskin.com/ Official site]

Jamin Ben Raskin (born December 13, 1962), known professionally as Jamie Raskin, is an American attorney, law professor, and politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for Maryland's 8th congressional district since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Raskin previously represented the 20th district in the Maryland State Senate from 2007 to 2016. Before entering electoral politics, Raskin spent more than two decades as a professor of constitutional law at American University Washington College of Law, where he co-founded the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project and directed the LL.M. program on law and government. He rose to national prominence as the lead impeachment manager in the second impeachment of Donald Trump following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. As of 2025, Raskin serves as the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, a position he assumed after previously serving as Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee from 2023 to 2025. Known for his expertise in constitutional law and his role in congressional oversight efforts, Raskin has become one of the most visible members of the House Democratic caucus.

Early Life

Jamin Ben Raskin was born on December 13, 1962, in Washington, D.C. He is the son of Marcus Raskin, a progressive political activist and co-founder of the Institute for Policy Studies, and Barbara Bellman. His father, Marcus Raskin, had served on the staff of the National Security Council under President John F. Kennedy before becoming a prominent figure in left-leaning policy circles. Growing up in Washington, D.C., Raskin was immersed from a young age in the political and intellectual culture of the nation's capital.

Raskin's family background provided a foundation steeped in public policy and progressive activism. His great-uncle was Max Raskin, who had also been involved in public life. The younger Raskin would follow in the family tradition of engagement with government and civic institutions, ultimately channeling his interests into the study and practice of constitutional law.

Education

Raskin attended Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently enrolled at Harvard Law School, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education at Harvard provided the scholarly grounding for what would become a career centered on constitutional interpretation, civil liberties, and democratic governance. After completing his legal studies, Raskin embarked on an academic career that would span more than twenty-five years before he transitioned to full-time elected office.

Career

Academic Career

Before entering electoral politics, Raskin established himself as a scholar of constitutional law at American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. He joined the faculty and became a full professor, teaching courses on constitutional law, the First Amendment, and legislation.

During his time at American University, Raskin co-founded and directed the LL.M. program on law and government, which trained lawyers pursuing advanced legal study in the intersection of law and public policy. He also co-founded the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project, an initiative named after U.S. Supreme Court Justices Thurgood Marshall and William J. Brennan Jr. that trained law students to teach constitutional law courses in public high schools. The project expanded to law schools across the United States and was recognized for promoting civic education among young people.

Raskin authored several books during his academic career, including works on the Supreme Court and constitutional education. His book We the Students: Supreme Court Cases for and About Students examined landmark court decisions relevant to young Americans.

Maryland State Senate (2007–2016)

Raskin entered electoral politics with a campaign for the Maryland State Senate, running to represent the 20th district, which encompassed parts of Montgomery County. He succeeded Ida G. Ruben in the seat and took office on January 10, 2007.

During his nearly decade-long tenure in the Maryland State Senate, Raskin was involved in a range of legislative efforts. He sponsored Senate Bill 290 during the 2008 legislative session, which dealt with matters of state governance. He also introduced Senate Bill 690 during the 2010 session and Senate Bill 803 during the 2011 session. In 2013, he sponsored Senate Bill 276.

During his time in the state legislature, Raskin was also involved in efforts related to election reform and the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which sought to ensure that the presidential candidate who received the most popular votes nationwide would win the presidency. He introduced legislation in Maryland related to this effort, consistent with his longstanding academic interest in electoral systems and democratic governance. He previously had written about the Electoral College and its effects on American democracy.

Raskin also introduced Senate Bill 634 during the 2007 session, early in his tenure as a state senator.

Raskin served in the Maryland State Senate until November 10, 2016, when he resigned following his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was succeeded in the state senate by Will Smith.

U.S. House of Representatives

2016 Election

In April 2015, following the announcement by incumbent Representative Chris Van Hollen that he would run for the U.S. Senate, Raskin declared his candidacy for Maryland's 8th congressional district. The 8th district at the time included portions of Montgomery County, a suburban county northwest of Washington, D.C., and extended through rural Frederick County to the Pennsylvania border.

Raskin won the Democratic primary election in April 2016. He went on to win the general election in November 2016, securing the seat in what was considered a heavily Democratic district. He succeeded Chris Van Hollen, who had been elected to the U.S. Senate, and took office on January 3, 2017.

Congressional Tenure

Since taking office, Raskin has served on several House committees and has focused on issues related to constitutional law, government oversight, civil liberties, and democratic reform. He co-chairs the Congressional Freethought Caucus, a caucus dedicated to promoting reason, science, and moral philosophy as the basis for public policy.

Following redistricting in 2022, Raskin's district was reconfigured to encompass much of Montgomery County and a small portion of Prince George's County.

Second Impeachment of Donald Trump

Raskin gained significant national attention when he was selected as the lead impeachment manager for the second impeachment of Donald Trump, which followed the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol. In this role, Raskin led the team of House managers who presented the case against Trump before the U.S. Senate, arguing that Trump had incited the insurrection. The impeachment trial took place in February 2021. The Senate ultimately voted to acquit Trump, with the vote of 57–43 falling short of the two-thirds majority needed for conviction, though it represented the most bipartisan support for conviction in any presidential impeachment trial in American history.

Raskin's role as lead impeachment manager was particularly noted because it came just days after the death of his son, Tommy Raskin, on December 31, 2020. Despite his personal grief, Raskin presented the House's case with detailed legal arguments and emotional testimony about the events of January 6, during which he and his family had been present at the Capitol.

In January 2026, on the fifth anniversary of the Capitol attack, Raskin authored an opinion essay in The New York Times titled "Jan. 6 Never Ended," reflecting on the lasting impact of the insurrection and its implications for American democracy.

House Oversight Committee and Judiciary Committee

From January 3, 2023, to January 3, 2025, Raskin served as the Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee, the top Democratic position on the committee. In this role, he was involved in various oversight investigations and was a prominent voice during committee hearings on government accountability matters. He succeeded James Comer in the ranking member position and was later succeeded by Gerry Connolly.

Beginning January 3, 2025, Raskin assumed the role of Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, succeeding Jerry Nadler in that position. In this capacity, Raskin has continued to be centrally involved in congressional oversight activities.

Epstein Files and Oversight Activities (2026)

In early 2026, Raskin became a prominent figure in congressional discussions surrounding the unredacted files related to Jeffrey Epstein. In an interview with Axios published on February 10, 2026, Raskin alleged that President Trump's name appeared in the unredacted Epstein files "more than a million times." The day before, The Guardian reported that Raskin had accused the Department of Justice of making "mysterious redactions" to documents related to Epstein, characterizing the DOJ's actions as a cover-up.

On February 11, 2026, during testimony by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi before the House Judiciary Committee, Raskin and other lawmakers exchanged sharp questions with Bondi regarding the Epstein files and the Department of Justice's handling of related documents.

In late February 2026, Raskin and Representative Suhas Subramanyam announced they would bring the family of the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an Epstein survivor, as their guests to President Trump's State of the Union address.

Other Congressional Activities (2026)

In early 2026, Raskin joined Representatives Jared Moskowitz and others in calling for a congressional inquiry into a reported criminal investigation by the Trump administration's Department of Justice into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, as reported by Fox News.

In February 2026, Raskin was among several House members who filed an amicus brief in the case of Texas v. Bondi, seeking to preserve Congress's authority to set its own rules. He was joined in the filing by Representatives Jerrold Nadler, Rosa DeLauro, Jim McGovern, and Joe Morelle.

Personal Life

Jamie Raskin is married to Sarah Bloom Raskin, who served as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Treasury during the Obama administration. Sarah Bloom Raskin had previously served as a governor of the Federal Reserve Board. The couple has three children.

Raskin's son Thomas ("Tommy") Bloom Raskin died on December 31, 2020, at the age of 25. Tommy Raskin had been a student at Harvard Law School and was remembered by his family and community for his commitment to social justice and his compassion for others. His death, which occurred just days before the January 6 Capitol attack, cast a deeply personal shadow over Jamie Raskin's subsequent role as lead impeachment manager. Raskin has spoken publicly about his son's death and its impact on his family.

Raskin has been open about his diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a form of cancer, which he disclosed publicly in late 2022. He underwent treatment while continuing to serve in Congress.

Raskin's father, Marcus Raskin, who died in 2017, was a co-founder of the Institute for Policy Studies and had served on the staff of President Kennedy's National Security Council.

Recognition

Raskin's role as lead impeachment manager in the second impeachment of Donald Trump brought him widespread public attention and recognition as one of the most prominent constitutional law experts serving in Congress. His presentation during the Senate impeachment trial was noted for its legal rigor and emotional weight, particularly given the personal tragedy he had recently experienced.

During his academic career, Raskin received recognition for his scholarship on constitutional law, democratic governance, and election reform. The Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project, which he co-founded, was recognized as an innovative approach to civic education and expanded to numerous law schools across the country.

As a state legislator, Raskin was recognized for his work on civil liberties legislation in Maryland. In Congress, he has been recognized by organizations such as the Jewish Democratic Council of America, which has featured him in public events and policy discussions.

Legacy

As a constitutional law scholar who transitioned to elected office, Raskin occupies an unusual position in American political life, bringing academic expertise in constitutional interpretation directly into the legislative process. His role as lead impeachment manager in the second impeachment of Donald Trump cemented his reputation as a central figure in congressional efforts to address the events surrounding January 6, 2021.

The Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project, which Raskin co-founded during his academic career at American University, continues to operate and has been replicated at law schools across the United States. The project represents a lasting contribution to civic education, training generations of law students to teach constitutional principles to high school students.

In the Maryland State Senate, Raskin's legislative work contributed to the state's progressive policy trajectory during his nearly decade-long tenure. His subsequent election to Congress and rapid ascent to leadership positions within the House Democratic caucus — including the ranking membership of both the Oversight Committee and the Judiciary Committee — reflect his standing within the party.

Raskin's continued work on congressional oversight, including his prominent role in the 2026 Epstein files controversy and his efforts to preserve congressional authority, positions him as a leading figure in ongoing debates about executive power, government transparency, and the rule of law.