Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland tells the story of the 45 days at the start of 2021 that permanently changed his life as he confronted the painful loss of his son to suicide, lived through the violent insurrection in our nation's Capitol, and led the impeachment effort to hold President Trump accountable for inciting the political violence.
Unthinkable is the perfect title for this extraordinary book, because it describes a superhuman feat. Jamie Raskin is a fine writer ... Raskin’s astonishing story of tragedy and redemption ... The most powerful part of Raskin’s book, the heart-shattering part, is his love letter to Tommy ... May this book and Tommy’s example inspire us all to rescue our gravely beleaguered democracy.
In writing about his son, Raskin speaks for so many of us who have lost a loved one to suicide: We don’t want them to be remembered only for the way they died ... this book is a fascinating, play-by-play account of the strategy for Trump’s second impeachment trial, including the behind-the-scenes workings, of which Raskin has deep knowledge as the trial’s lead prosecutor. As the wife of a U.S. senator, I had a special appreciation for Raskin’s description of the somber pretrial discussions ... The overarching lesson of this book is an optimistic one, particularly for anyone who loves a child, of any age. As I read Raskin’s many passages about his complicated, beautiful boy, and Tommy’s enduring influence on him, I found myself reflecting on my relationship with my own beloved children, now grown ... Raskin has taken full measure of his son and his relationship with him. He continues to discover how Tommy’s life has changed his and is willing to share this with all of us. He is extending an invitation for anyone who loves a child to do the same.
Raskin’s detailed account of the second impeachment proceedings goes on at great but not burdensome length, joining Adam Schiff’s Midnight in Washington as a close study in how such matters work. A brilliant preface, one might guess, to further legal actions against the disgraced former president for his crimes.
