Trump Orders Justice Department to Investigate Democrats for Alleged Extortion

President Donald Trump on Saturday ordered the Department of Justice to examine statements and actions by Democratic officials that he characterized as threats of impeachment and imprisonment directed at administration figures and Republican supporters. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that Democrats “are going around threatening a lot of people, including the Attorney General of the United States, and others, with Impeachment and many other forms of punishment, even though they admit they have no reason to do so, and there have been no impeachable acts committed.”

He added that the conduct constituted “extortion at the highest level” and that “they’re threatening our Donors, some of the most respected people anywhere in the World, with imprisonment, and many other levels of punishment, just because they happen to be Republicans, or Republican supporters.” Trump specifically named Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, writing that she was “saying that she is going to go after all young people that believe in Republican Values.” He directed that “the imprisonment should be against these EXTORTIONISTS” and stated, “By copy of this statement, I am ordering the Department of Justice to look into this criminal act, immediately.”

In a separate post the same day, Trump urged that threats against donors be reported to the Department of Justice or sent directly to him. The statements followed Democrats’ capture of both chambers of Congress in the November 3 midterms. House Democrats Hank Johnson of Georgia and Deborah Ross of North Carolina had publicly indicated support for impeaching Attorney General Todd Blanche. Slotkin’s earlier remarks at the University of Chicago, in which she discussed creating a deterrence effect against young people joining the Trump administration, have been cited by critics as the basis for the president’s reference.

The order arrives as the administration transitions into a divided-government period. Trump has previously stated he will use veto authority against measures he opposes once the new Congress is seated in January. Senate Republicans retain control through the lame-duck session. No formal Justice Department response to the directive had been issued by Sunday morning.