Trump enlists attorney general to investigate Biden administration

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Guardian

Fri 24 Jan 2025 08.00 EST
Last modified on Fri 24 Jan 2025 08.02 EST


Donald Trump has tasked the attorney general in two executive orders to conduct far-reaching investigations into the previous administration, using the weight of the justice department to pursue what are effectively politically charged reviews into his personal grievances. The orders the president signed on Monday to end the “weaponization of the federal government” and the “government censorship of speech” in the Biden administration directed the attorney general to review actions over the last four years and prepare a final report.

Incoming administrations always set their priorities in the first days and Trump’s second term is no different from any of his predecessors in that respect. Trump also signed executive orders instructing the department to bring more criminal cases connected to the southern border. The fact that the investigations will be done outside of the White House means they could be less susceptible to political interference by West Wing aides and leaves open the possibility that the investigative work is conducted in part at least by career attorneys at the justice department.

But the weaponization order was particularly unusual in making the incoming attorney general examine alleged misconduct at the justice department – rather than the department’s office of professional responsibility or inspector general – and then to deliver findings to a political appointee at the White House.

The attorney general does not typically prepare reports for the deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller. Under the justice department’s no-contacts policy, designed to prevent political interference in investigations, the attorney general is only supposed to interact, at a staff level, with the White House counsel or the deputy counsel. Taken together, the various aspects of the weaponization order foreshadow the major role Trump wants the justice department to play in his second term and harness its far-reaching power to enact his agenda.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/24/trump-executive-orders-justice-department

[Marthe48]

1. Bullshit

Where is opposing leadership to stop this frenzied and illegal dismantling of the U.S.? How in the hell did so many traitors crawl out from under rocks to aid and abet this top down bottom up crime? How much more has to happen before somebody with guts says enough is enough and ends the whole fascist agenda.

[maxrandb]

6. Your first response to this is to blame the opposition?

And we wonder why we lose elections....

[Marthe48]

10. This is not about Dem leadership

The opposition is the rwnj and they are perverting the country. While these actions occur, people like me, who resist, are milling around hoping that somebody or something will grind it to a halt. I don't want to spend my time and energy reading snarky memes or reposting same. I want somebody to clarify if we have a plan, and what I can do to implement it.

I don't bash Dems. And my comment isn't a bash, even if somehow you see it that way. I will 100% of the time bash rwnj and the damage they are doing. Weaponizing DoJ is a big hit and even if I knew it was coming, I'm not going to take it lightly.

[Ray Bruns]

7. "Where is opposing leadership to stop this frenzied and illegal dismantling of the U.S."

They are in the minority. What do you want them to do?

[PaulRevere08]

18. Maybe, en mass, stand in front of the Capitol and denounce the president and his enablers.

Do more than send me 100 emails/texts a day asking for money.

[NotHardly]

23. Stand up and fu*king scream to the rafters! The very least they could do.

[NotHardly]

22. How many $$$ did Putin give Trump for this move? Bathroom documents?

[kerouac2]

2. That took longer than expected

Figured that was a day one thing of this nightmare

[Alice B.]

3. Can his own EO about weaponizing government be used against him?

That would be sweet.

[Autumn]

4. What's really sad is trumps AG won't spend 4 years just holding his d*ck in his hand.

[Ray Bruns]

8. Exactly! Maybe Merrick Garland should take notes

[MIGuy]

5. Silly waste of time

Biden has presidential immunity.

[SARose]

11. Not in Trump world

Cheeto man is special. Only he gets the Diet Coke button and immunity.

Pffttt

[Rebl2]

17. Correct

The Supreme Court ruled that presidents have immunity for anything they did while in office.

[intrepidity]

21. Not quite

The immunity.only extends to "official acts" conducted while in office.

[Historic NY]

9. Weaponizing the Justice Dept.

[intheflow]

13. Every accusation is an admission.

[GB_RN]

15. This.

That has been GOP-Q SOP for decades.

[bluestarone]

16. EXACTLY!

[MissouriDem47]

12. Lawfare

Trump's is making "lawfare" a reality.

[eppur_se_muova]

14. "War on Weaponization" consists exclusively of weaponization. Much better headline. nt

[PortTack]

19. Tsf forgets President Biden had immunity!

[republianmushroom]

20. Not to political for republicans.

Way to political for Merrick the Meek