May 2, 2018

Trump Threatens to “Get Involved” With Justice Department

The president claimed that at “some point” his interference would be necessary.

Andrew Harrer/ZUMA

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.

President Donald Trump raised the possibility that he may interfere with the Department of Justice to force the release of documents related to the Russia investigation and other federal probes, asserting in a tweet Wednesday morning that he would soon “have no choice” but to get involved.

The new threat comes one day after House Freedom Caucus chair Sen. Mark Meadows confirmed that members had recently finalized draft articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Meadows called the articles a “last resort” if the Justice Department refused to hand over documents related to the ongoing federal investigations.

Speaking before an audience at the Newseum on Tuesday, Rosenstein dismissed the latest threat to his position, adding that the Justice Department will not be “extorted.”

Trump’s tweet on Wednesday echoes remarks he made during a phone interview with Fox & Friends last week in which he announced that he was assessing whether to step into the Justice Department’s matters. He said, “I’ve taken the position—and I don’t have to take this position, and maybe I’ll change—that I will not be involved with the Justice Department.”

In a previous tweet earlier Wednesday, the president quoted former US Attorney Joe diGenova’s to hint that special counsel Robert Mueller’s reported list of questions for him were unconstitutional.

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate