Trump Orders Justice Department Probe Into Democratic Lawmakers

President Donald Trump issued an order on Saturday directing the Justice Department to investigate Democratic lawmakers. He accused them of threatening individuals as they prepare to take control of Congress in January. The directive follows the Republican defeat in the midterm elections held Tuesday.

The president posted on social media that the actions constitute a criminal act. He claimed Democrats sent threatening letters to many innocent people. He did not provide specific evidence for this claim in the post.

Democratic leaders have pledged to restore congressional oversight of the executive branch. They plan to hold hearings and conduct investigations into administration actions. Several members of Congress have released copies of letters seeking documents on specific matters. These requests include donations from tech companies for the White House ballroom project.

The order specifically mentions Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. Slotkin suggested at the University of Chicago last month that Congress should investigate people who enable administration policies. She told students to consider if working for the administration was worth the potential risks. She said this approach would send a message of deterrence.

Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah criticized Slotkin on social media. He argued she was threatening young people who aspire to enter politics. Slotkin responded that Lee lied about her comments. She asked him to spare the public from manufactured outrage.

The Justice Department has previously investigated Slotkin. A grand jury rejected an attempt to indict her after she participated in a video urging service members to disobey illegal orders. Spokespeople for the Justice Department and Slotkin did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday.