(NBC News)–“Fresh off last week’s historic guilty verdict, former President Donald Trump had a warning for his political opponents on Tuesday. In an interview with the conservative outlet Newsmax, Trump seemed to float the possibility of imprisoning his political opponents if he becomes president again.
“So, you know, it’s a terrible, terrible path that they’re leading us to, and it’s very possible that it’s going to have to happen to them,” Trump said when discussing his guilty verdict. “Does that mean the next president does it to them? That’s really the question,” he added.
(CEO)— The media speculating whether Donald Trump intends to weaponize the Department of Justice if elected to a second Presidential term is absurd. Not only because Trump has already publicly pledged to on multiple occasions. But in his first term as President, there were many instances of Trump using the DOJ as his personal law enforcers. Willing to exploit the institution’s authority to investigate political opponents and protect his allies.
However now that Trump finds himself on the receiving end of a fair judicial process. As he often does, Trump projects and deflects his unethical behavior onto his political rivals to manipulate public opinion. A Trump tactic used to justify his actions and an opportunity to play the victim card. It’s a strategy right out of the MAGA playbook co-opted by Republicans in their “Whataboutism” manner of dealing with media criticism. So when the press acts shocked by Trump’s rhetoric about the future weaponization of the DOJ. It makes you question if the media intentionally overlooked the damage already done during his prior stint in office.
Including interfering in the prosecution or sentencing of close associates like Rodger Stone, General Michael Flynn, and Steve Bannon. Or Trump demanding investigations and surveillance of media personalities and Democrats critical of his Administration. Along with silencing his co-conspirators Lev Parnas and Michael Cohen once they attempted to tell officials about their roles in Trump’s criminal activities. Both men were sentenced to prison after trying to cooperate with investigations into Trump.
Trump immediately fired his original Attorney General Geoff Sessions. After his refusal to personally oversee the Russian collusion investigation involving the Trump campaign. Selecting Bill Barr as his replacement who was more than happy to do Trump’s bidding. Barr has rightly earned the title of “Most Corrupt AG in History”, by CNN’s former prosecutor Elie Honig, for a plethora of reasons. Apart from the examples above, he influenced the findings of the Mueller investigation. By delaying and redacting the original findings before they were released to Congress and the American citizens. Barr publicly declared that there was no evidence of Russian collusion with the Trump campaign. Despite obvious intelligence in the report that proved otherwise.
Barr also sowed doubt in the approaching presidential election in 2020. Claiming the potential of fraud was overwhelming in mail-in ballots. The only time Barr didn’t co-sign Trump’s lies was after the election had been proven secure by the courts and those tasked with election security. But before his one noble decision as AG, Barr refused to prosecute any evident voting rights violations. Even situations of voter suppression and intimidation against minorities were ignored at Barr’s discretion. Barr under Trump’s oversight started “Operation Legend” which used federal law enforcement agencies to track down and prosecute Black Lives Matter activists throughout the country. Using the leverage of the Federal Government to enforce laws in Democratic-run cities with no legal jurisdiction. Arresting thousands of minorities on nonviolent crimes during peaceful protests over George Floyd’s murder.
These are just a handful of the known cases of weaponization of the Trump DOJ. Bill Barr thankfully drew the line at Trump’s attempted coup on January 6th. A second Trump Administration will certainly appoint people specifically willing to execute all of Trump’s directives. Regardless of the legality of Trump’s commands. The guardrails safeguarding the country from Trump’s first try at a coup. These will merely be lessons learned of what obstacles need to be avoided if elected President once again. Those positions upholding democracy before will be filled with Trump loyalists. Dedicated to a complete MAGA takeover of the US government. We not only should take Trump at his word we must also recognize what he’s already accomplished. Giving Trump another chance to achieve his authoritarian ambitions. Is like playing Russian Roulette with American democracy. The chances, if Trump is elected in November, are much higher that our nation will not survive another round.
I’m aware this isn’t Russian Roulette but I still love that scene
Click the link below for the NBC News article quoted in this column
The-Anti-Social-Media Pro-DEMOCRACY WING 