The president said he directed the Justice Department to investigate alleged threats to impeach Attorney General Todd Blanche and other officials, after Democrats regained both chambers of Congress.
President Donald Trump said in a 7 November Truth Social post that he had ordered the US Justice Department to investigate Democratic lawmakers over what he called threats to impeach Attorney General Todd Blanche and other administration officials. The department has not confirmed that it opened an investigation.
The direction followed Democrats' victories in the midterm elections, which gave them majorities in the House and Senate. Trump alleged that Democrats had threatened officials with impeachment and other punishment while admitting they had no reason to do so. He called the alleged actions a criminal act, described those involved as extortionists and said they should be imprisoned.
Trump also alleged that Democrats were threatening Republican donors with imprisonment because of their views. He did not identify the donors, Fox News said.
After Election Day, Democratic Representatives Hank Johnson of Georgia and Deborah Ross of North Carolina publicly backed impeaching Blanche. Johnson said Thursday on Dan Abrams’ radio show that he believed Blanche’s offenses demanded impeachment, conviction and removal from office. Ross also supported impeaching Blanche on the show shortly after Johnson but said Democrats should start with Hegseth.
Trump denied that Blanche or any other administration official had committed impeachable acts. He did not name Johnson or Ross in his post.
Impeachment is a congressional process that can lead to an official’s removal; it is distinct from a criminal prosecution. The Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause protects legislative activity, saying lawmakers cannot be questioned elsewhere for speech or debate in either chamber. That protection does not give blanket immunity to statements outside Congress.
The only Democratic politician Trump named was Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin. He accused her of saying she would go after all young people who believe in Republican values.
Fox News linked Trump’s description to Slotkin’s October 13 remarks at the University of Chicago about pursuing “signature cases” against people who enabled him. Slotkin said she wanted to deter young people from working for the Trump administration by making them anticipate problems from doing so.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky will likely reintroduce impeachment articles against Hegseth on 9 November, Fox News said. Trump did not mention Massie’s anticipated move in his post.
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