The outgoing Democratic chair of the Senate judiciary committee Dick Durbin warned that Donald Trump’s latest appointees to top Justice Department and other cabinet positions are a clear sign that he will weaponize the Department of Justice and law enforcement to retaliate against his political opponents.
Durbin singled out the president-elect’s nomination of Todd Blanche, who defended Trump in his hush money trial in New York, as deputy attorney general, and John Sauer, who argued before the supreme court in his immunity case, as solicitor general:
Coupled with the announcement that he intends to nominate former Congressman Matt Gaetz to be Attorney General, these selections show Donald Trump intends to weaponize the Justice Department to seek vengeance. Donald Trump viewed the Justice Department as his personal law firm during his first term, and these selections—his personal attorneys—are poised to do his bidding.
The American people deserve a Justice Department that fights for equal justice under the law. This isn’t it.
Democrats are losing control of the Senate at the beginning of next year, and the incoming Republican majority will be tasked with confirming his appointees.