America’ descent into authoritarianism accelerated over the weekend, as President Donald Trump used the ability of the presidency to punish his enemies and reward his allies—similar to a dictator would do.
On Saturday, Trump admitted that he fired the U.S. legal professional for the Japanese District of Virginia as a result of he wouldn’t cost his perceived enemies with crimes—a blatant instance of the sort of lawfare he wrongly says he’s been subjected to.
Trump then demanded that Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi appoint somebody who will cost California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff and New York state Lawyer Normal Tish James with federal crimes, though there isn’t any proof to warrant such fees.
Trump made the touch upon Saturday in a Reality Social message, which sounded lots like he was making an attempt to direct-message Bondi slightly than make a public put up.
Trump wrote:
Pam: I’ve reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, basically, “same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam “Shifty” Schiff, Leticia??? They’re all responsible as hell, however nothing goes to be accomplished.” Then we virtually put in a Democrat supported U.S. Lawyer, in Virginia, with a very dangerous Republican previous. A Woke RINO, who was by no means going to do his job. That’s why two of the worst Dem Senators PUSHED him so arduous. He even lied to the media and mentioned he stop, and that we had no case. No, I fired him, and there’s a GREAT CASE, and lots of attorneys, and authorized pundits, say so. Lindsey Halligan is a very good lawyer, and likes you, lots. We will’t delay any longer, it’s killing our status and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 instances!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!! President DJT
Later Saturday evening, Trump formally introduced he was appointing Halligan to interchange ousted U.S. Lawyer Erik Siebert.
Halligan, who served as considered one of Trump’s private attorneys, is presently engaged on the Trump administration’s effort to whitewash American historical past by purging the Smithsonian museums of content material Trump and Republicans assume promotes “improper ideology.”
In the meantime, additionally on Saturday, MSNBC and The New York Occasions each reported that Trump’s racist border czar, Tom Homan, was caught in an FBI sting in September 2024, during which he allegedly accepted a $50,000 money bribe from two undercover brokers posing as businessmen, in change for getting these brokers federal contracts in a possible Trump administration.
However when Trump took workplace, the investigation was closed after FBI Director Kash Patel obtained concerned.
Meaning Trump is looking for to prosecute his enemies who didn’t break the legislation, whereas letting his allies off after committing obvious violations of the legislation.
Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi speaks throughout a information convention on the White Home on Aug. 11.
“White House knew Homan had accepted $50K to influence contracts. They appointed him anyways. Then they disbanded the DOJ’s Public Integrity unit and quashed the Homan investigation. There’s no end to the corruption in Trump’s White House,” Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Mary Homosexual Scanlon wrote in a put up on X.
If that lawfare wasn’t terrifying sufficient, the Division of Protection advised media retailers that they’re not permitted to report on unauthorized info.
“Information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified,” reads a memo despatched to reporters and obtained by the Related Press.
If reporters don’t conform to turn out to be stenographers for the Pentagon, they threat shedding their press credentials—a transfer that consultants say is a blatant violation of the First Modification.
“This policy operates as a prior restraint on publication, which is considered the most serious of First Amendment violations,” Seth Stern, director of advocacy on the Freedom of the Press Basis, advised CNN.
That’s simply the newest First Modification violation for the Trump administration. Final week, Federal Communications Fee Chair Brendan Carr demanded that ABC take away late-night comic Jimmy Kimmel from the air or else face penalties. The community folded.
In the end, Trump’s actions throughout this weekend alone ought to get him impeached and faraway from workplace. However on condition that Congress is crammed with Republican yes-men who excuse Pricey Chief’s actions each as a result of they’re scared to anger the MAGA base and since they’re okay with lawlessness if it advantages them.
