Crossing the red line? Trump pressures the Justice Department to prosecute political opponents, challenging judicial independence.

President Donald Trump is publicly pressuring the U.S. Department of Justice to quickly prosecute several political opponents. In a series of social media posts and public comments over the weekend, he called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate those he has long opposed.

Trump demands an investigation

Last Saturday, President Trump directly called on Attorney General Bondi via social media, requesting her to investigate what he described as "the most heinous" individuals, including former FBI Director James Comey, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Trump wrote: "We can no longer delay, this is damaging our reputation and credibility." He also claimed that many of his supporters are frustrated by the lack of progress, citing more than 30 public comments expressing this viewpoint.

In another follow-up post, Trump praised Bondi for "doing a great job" and added that he believes she will be remembered as one of the best Attorneys General in American history.

Fired the prosecutor for refusing to sue Letitia James

Trump also commented on the departure of federal prosecutor Erik Siebert last Friday. Trump claimed that Siebert failed to take action against the mortgage fraud allegations targeting Letitia James, who successfully led the civil fraud case against Trump in 2023.

Despite reports that Siebert resigned, Trump insisted, "I fired him, and this case has great potential." The New York Times reported that Siebert had told senior officials at the Justice Department that there was not enough evidence to sue James.

James denied the allegations of mortgage fraud, calling them "baseless" and politically motivated. However, Trump announced that he has nominated Lindsey Halligan as the successor to Siebert and stated that a new prosecutor is needed to "move things forward."

There has always been a challenge to judicial independence.

Trump's recent remarks are part of a broader pattern since his first term. He frequently criticizes the Justice Department for failing to prosecute his opponents and has dismissed officials he deemed disloyal.

During his presidency, Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions after he recused himself from the "Russia investigation." His second Attorney General, William Barr, resigned after refusing to support Trump's claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.

Trump also took action against other officials, such as revoking the security clearances of James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who had indicted him. He also fired several attorneys involved in the investigation led by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith and criticized law firms associated with the investigation against him.

Campaign Promises and Political Retaliation

As part of his ongoing campaign, Trump has repeatedly promised to take legal action against those he considers political enemies, including current and former law enforcement and judicial officials.

He has publicly stated that he intends to retaliate against past investigations, including the impeachment proceedings led by Adam Schiff. In remarks made last Saturday, Trump reiterated his view that the Department of Justice must take action "quickly."

Although some Republicans remain silent on this, Democratic leaders have expressed concern. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated, "He is turning the (Department of Justice) into a tool to go after enemies, regardless of their guilt."

The U.S. Department of Justice traditionally operates to some extent independently of the White House. However, Trump's approach continues to raise questions about the political pressure faced by federal law enforcement agencies.

Conclusion

President Trump publicly pressured the Department of Justice to expedite the prosecution of political opponents, which has once again sparked profound discussions about the boundaries of presidential power and the independence of the judiciary. This is not only a continuation of his campaign promises but also reflects the long-standing tension between him and the judicial institutions. As this article shows, such actions may politically cater to his supporters, but also invite criticism that they could undermine the fairness and credibility of the U.S. judicial system.