In an unprecedented move, President Donald Trump is openly pressuring the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute his political opponents, including Jim Comey, Letitia James, and Adam Schiff. His blunt demands on social media and political reshuffling inside DOJ have deepened fear and uncertainty among career attorneys.
Trump recently replaced a top federal prosecutor in Virginia after he refused to bring charges the president wanted. His appointee, Lindsey Halligan, has no prosecutorial experience. Inside the department, mass firings and forced resignations have gutted key divisions, including public integrity and civil rights.
Legal experts warn the president’s actions represent a fundamental break with the long-standing norm of DOJ independence from the White House. “You have a president who is openly, brazenly bragging about his ability to seek retribution against his political enemies,” said law professor Stephen Saltzburg.
While the White House frames this as restoring “accountability,” legal scholars like Jack Goldsmith argue it raises serious ethical and constitutional concerns. Judges and grand juries have already begun rejecting some politically charged cases, signaling possible pushback from the judicial system.
The confrontation echoes past crises, such as the Nixon era, but observers note Trump is far more public and aggressive in his demands—placing unprecedented pressure on career prosecutors and the rule of law itself.
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