In case anyone had doubts, it should be evident now how serious President Donald Trump was when he vowed to be “your retribution” in a second term.
Except for this caveat: The investigations Trump has ordered into former officials all represent his retribution against those who investigated, questioned or otherwise crossed him, including renewed efforts to rewrite the history of Russia’s proven role in trying to help his 2016 campaign.
The list of potential Trump legal targets is growing: former special counsel Jack Smith, former FBI director James Comey, former CIA director John Brennan, former Department of Homeland Security chief of staff Miles Taylor, former national intelligence director James Clapper, former administration cybersecurity official Chris Krebs, New York attorney general Leticia James, California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, and, most extraordinarily of all, his presidential predecessor, Barack Obama.
Whether Obama and other officials will ultimately face charges is uncertain. It’s an unprecedented — and highly improper — use of Trump’s presidential powers, which presumably relies on a loose definition of the constitutional provision authorizing the president to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”
To justify these investigations, officials are taking advantage of the breadth and vagueness of that authority to allege that Trump’s political foes may be guilty of violating laws. Their real crimes are that they investigated him — or brought charges against him.
The most extensive probe — and most questionable — is the one Bondi recently launched without public notice when she authorized a federal prosecutor to seek a grand jury investigation, apparently in Trump-friendly southern Florida, of National Security Director Tulsi Gabbard’s statements questioning the legitimacy of earlier findings that Russia sought to help Trump in 2016.
The Trump administration, following up on other presidential directives, has launched these other investigations:
› The Office of Special Counsel is investigating Smith on grounds he violated the Hatch Act’s prohibition on political activities by federal employees with investigations aimed at helping defeat Trump in the 2024 election.
› The Justice Department acknowledged in a Fox News report it has launched “criminal investigations” into allegations of false testimony to Congress by Comey and Brennan after a new CIA report on a 2017 intelligence summary assessment of Russian election interference.
› The Justice Department is investigating Taylor and Krebs on their activities as government officials after Trump revoked both of their security clearances.
› The U.S. attorney’s office in Maryland is reportedly investigating Schiff, who led House impeachment efforts against Trump, for mortgage fraud for claiming his Maryland home was his principal residence after earlier making similar claims for a Burbank, Ca., condo he bought. Members of Congress can deduct costs from having to maintain two separate residences.
› A New York state U.S. attorney is investigating James’ civil fraud case against Trump’s business empire that resulted in a $450 million fine and her litigation against the Trump-supporting National Rifle Association. In addition, a separate action accuses her of mortgage fraud for claiming a second principal residence.
It’s a blatant effort to use the American judicial system to undertake the retaliation he pledged — but for himself, rather than the voters he serves.
The Dallas Morning News