He writes with gut-wrenching frankness about the depression that Tommy could not escape and his own grief and guilt. (His father and I are friends and neighbors.) Raskin’s depiction of his remarkable son is both inspiring and almost unbearably heartbreaking, given the far-too-soon ending to his story. I knew him and can attest that he was an unusually excellent human being. Tommy, a Harvard law student at the time of his death, was brilliant, creative, empathetic, perceptive, and passionate. It is a stunning work: a biography of Tommy, an account of one of the worst days in the life of America, and a behind-the-scenes recounting of the effort to hold Trump accountable for his assault on the republic. ![]() Raskin has written a poignant, sad, insightful, and compelling memoir of those weeks: Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy. Quite an accomplishment for a former constitutional law professor, especially under the horrific personal circumstances. That was 10 votes shy of the 67 votes required for a conviction but the largest bipartisan vote for an impeachment conviction in US history. How to do that with the burden of immense suffering? The trial ended in a majority vote for conviction, 57 to 43, with seven Republicans finding Trump guilty, and the other members of the minority party essentially accepting Trump’s betrayal. That entailed devising the legal arguments and strategies for the trial in the Senate-and assuming the high-profile role as chief prosecutor. Yet Raskin, amid the deepest grief, took on a weighty assignment: leading the House managers for the second impeachment of Donald Trump. Yet for Raskin, his wife, Sarah, and their daughters, these different nightmares were intertwined, each striking at and undermining core assumptions about life and their world. ![]() These two traumas were distinct, one personal and intimate, the other with ramifications for an entire nation. The three lived through the harrowing hours, as Trump-inspired insurrectionists attacked Congress and tried to stop the transfer of power. Days later, Raskin was at the Capitol on January 6, with his daughter Hannah and the husband of his other daughter, Tabitha, for the certification of the electoral vote. On the last day of 2020, Tommy Raskin, the 25-year-old son of Rep. Subscribing costs just $5 a month-but right now you can sign up for a free 30-day trial of Our Land here. Our Land is written by David twice a week and provides behind-the-scenes stories about politics and media his unvarnished take on the events of the day film, books, television, and music recommendations interactive audience features and more. Sarah Bloom Raskin was a governor of the Federal Reserve Board and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Department during President Obama’s administration.Editor’s note: This interview first appeared in Our Land, David Corn’s new newsletter. Before entering Congress in 2016, Raskin represented parts of Takoma Park and Silver Spring in the Maryland State Senate. Raskin’s statement did not list a cause of death, and said that funeral and memorial service arrangements will be released at a later date.Ĭongressman Raskin represents Maryland’s Eighth Congressional District, which includes much of Montgomery County. The family is grateful for the outpouring of support and love from neighbors, constituents, and friends but asks everyone to observe strict COVID-19 protocols during this time of grief.” “Tommy is survived by his beloved sisters Hannah and Tabitha, dozens of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and grandparents Arlene Bloom and Lynn Raskin. We are devastated and demolished to be without him. ![]() He passionately loved his family, friends, and animals, and was devoted to the cause of the global poor. His brilliance and compassion knew no bounds. In a statement, Congressman Raskin wrote, “Tommy was pure magic. ![]() He was a second-year student at Harvard Law School.Īt Blair, Tommy lead a peer tutoring program and was the president of the Young Democrats Club, according to Silver Chips articles from the time. Tommy was 25.Īfter graduating from Montgomery Blair High School, Tommy attended and graduated from Amherst College. Congressman Jamie Raskin and Sarah Bloom Raskin announced the passing of their son, Thomas (Tommy) Bloom Raskin, this morning at their home in Takoma Park.
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