President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. Justice Department on Saturday to investigate Democrats for what he described as threats against “many people” involving impeachment and other punishment, Reuters reported.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that “these dirty ones should go to jail for what they’re doing,” offnews.bg reported. In a longer message on the same platform, he accused Democrats of “going around and threatening many people, including the Attorney General of the United States and others, with impeachment and many other forms of punishment,” even though, he claimed, they acknowledge they have no grounds for it. He also said Democrats were threatening donors — “some of the most respected people anywhere in the world” — with imprisonment “just because they happen to be Republicans or supporters of the Republican Party.”
Democratic Gains in Tuesday’s Midterms Set the Stage
The order came after Democratic candidates defeated Trump’s Republicans in Tuesday’s midterm elections, giving Democrats control of Congress, Reuters recalled. Democrats have promised to restore congressional oversight of the executive branch once in power, including hearings and investigations into the actions of the Trump administration.
Slotkin’s Remarks Drew Trump’s Attention
Trump’s statement also referenced Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. In October, Slotkin proposed that Congress investigate people who supported Trump’s policies. “I want young people coming out of school to say: ‘Should I go to work for the Trump administration?’… I want them to say: ‘God, this could bring me a pile of problems I don’t want. So maybe I’ll avoid getting involved in that,'” Slotkin said, adding that she wanted “that message of deterrence to be sent out.”
Questions Readers Are Asking
What exactly did Trump order the Justice Department to do?
According to Reuters, Trump directed the department on Saturday to investigate Democrats whom he accused of threatening people with impeachment and other forms of punishment without grounds.
Who is Elissa Slotkin?
Elissa Slotkin is a Democratic senator from Michigan. In October she proposed congressional investigations of people who supported Trump’s policies and said she wanted a deterrent message sent to young people considering work in the Trump administration.
What did Democrats win on Tuesday?
Democratic candidates defeated Trump’s Republicans in Tuesday’s midterm elections and took control of Congress, and they have pledged to hold hearings and investigations into the Trump administration’s actions.
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