US President Donald Trump has urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to have the Justice Department pursue legal action against several of his political adversaries. Trump has called on Bondi to investigate former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Democratic Se…
Eight months into his second term, President Donald Trump’s long-standing pledge to take on those he perceives as his political enemies prompted debates over free speech, media censorship and political prosecutions.
From late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension to Pentagon restrictions on reporters and an apparent public appeal to Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue legal cases against his adversaries, Trump escalated moves to consolidate power in his second administration and root out those who spoke out against him.
In a post on social media this weekend addressed to Bondi, Trump said “nothing is being done” on investigations into some of his foes.
“We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility,” he said. Noting that he was impeached and criminally charged, “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
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Criticizing investigations into Trump’s dealings under Democratic President Joe Biden’s Justice Department, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Sunday that “it is not right for the Trump administration to do the same thing.”
Directive to Bondi
Trump has ratcheted up his discussion of pursuing legal cases against some of his political opponents, part of a vow for retribution that has been a theme of his return to the White House. He publicly pressed Bondi this weekend to move forward with such investigations.
Trump posted somewhat of an open letter on social media Saturday to his top prosecutor to advance such inquiries, including a mortgage fraud probe into New York Attorney General Letitia James and a possible threat case against former FBI Director James Comey.
He posted that he “reviewed over 30 statements and posts” that he characterized as criticizing his administration for a lack of action on investigations.
“We have to act fast — one way or the other,” Trump told reporters later that night at the White House. “They’re guilty, they’re not guilty — we have to act fast. If they’re not guilty, that’s fine. If they are guilty or if they should be charged, they should be charged. And we have to do it now.”
Charlie Kirk praised at memorial service; Trump defends AG Bondi
On today’s episode:
4.3 magnitude earthquake jolts the San Francisco Bay Area and people report feeling a sharp shake. Trump officials praise Charlie Kirk’s faith and his mark on the conservative movement. UK, Australia and Canada recognize a Palestinian state, prompting anger from Israel. North Korean leader recalls ‘good memories’ of Trump, urges US to drop denuclearization demands. President Trump defends his AG Pam Bondi. US lawmakers push for military dialogue in a rare China visit. California bans most law enforcement officers from wearing masks during operations. ICE denies using excessive force as it broadens immigration arrests in Chicago. Democratic leaders in Congress demand a meeting with Trump as government shutdown looms. India expresses concern about Trump plan to hike fees on H-1B visas that bring tech workers to US. Kennedy’s vaccine advisers change COVID shot guidance, calling them an individual choice. Sonny Curtis, Crickets member who penned ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ theme, dies at 88. D4vd tour dates removed from websites after the discovery of a girl’s body in Los Angeles. Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James who co-wrote ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ dies in plane crash. California bans most law enforcement officers from wearing masks during operations. Man is arrested and charged in deadly New Hampshire country club shooting. Luigi Mangione’s lawyers want death penalty off the table in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case. Army says 4 soldiers died in a helicopter crash in Washington state this week. Wall Street coasts to the finish of its latest record-setting week. A wild finish puts the Eagles 3-0, four other NFL teams stay unbeaten, an ACC team is on the rise in the AP Top 25 college football poll, an AL East team punches the league’s first postseason ticket, an unprecedented MVP award in women’s basketball and a two-time Stanley Cup winner dies. Aaron Rodgers throws 2 TD passes and Steelers force 5 turnovers to beat Patriots 21-14. Dodgers become the 10th team in baseball history to draw 4 million fans in a season. IOC confirms Russians competing as neutrals at Milan-Cortina Games and no talks on Israel. Teen charged in shooting of San Francisco 49ers’ Pearsall will not be tried as an adult. The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of a key Gaza City hospital. Ukrainian and Russian attacks kill 3 civilians as Zelenskyy prepares to meet Trump.
— The Associated Press
About this program
Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.
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The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX
Lee Enterprises John Oliver Urges Viewers to Boycott Disney Over Jimmy Kimmel Suspension 5 things to know for Sept. 22: Charlie Kirk memorial, Jimmy Kimmel, Super typhoon, Immigration, Middle East
Trump later wrote in a follow-up post that Bondi was “doing a GREAT job.”
Paul, a frequent Trump foil from the right, was asked during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” about the propriety of a president directing his attorney general to investigate political opponents. The senator decried “lawfare in all forms.”
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said it was “unconstitutional and deeply immoral for the president to jail or to silence his political enemies.” He warned it could set a worrisome precedent for both parties.
“It will come back and boomerang on conservatives and Republicans at some point if this becomes the norm,” Murphy told ABC’s “This Week.”
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The Senate’s Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” that Trump is turning the Justice Department “into an instrument that goes after his enemies, whether they’re guilty or not, and most of them are not guilty at all, and that helps his friends. This is the path to a dictatorship. That’s what dictatorships do.”
James investigation
Each new president nominates his own U.S. attorneys in jurisdictions across the country. Trump already worked to install people close to him in some of those jobs, including former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro in the District of Columbia and Alina Habba, his former attorney, in New Jersey.
Trump stocked his second administration with loyalists, continuing Saturday with the nomination of a White House aide as top federal prosecutor for the office investigating James, a longtime foe of Trump.
Trump announced Lindsey Halligan to be the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia on Saturday, just a day after Erik Siebert resigned from the post and Trump said he wanted him “out.”
Trump said he was bothered that Siebert was supported by the state’s two Democratic senators.
Pentagon reporters
Trump styled himself as an opponent of censorship, pledging in his January inaugural address to “bring free speech back to America” and signing an executive order that no federal officer, employee or agent may unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen.
Under a 17-page memo distributed Friday, the Pentagon stepped up restrictions on the media, saying it will require journalists to sign a pledge to refrain from reporting information that has not been authorized for release, including unclassified information.
Journalists who don’t abide by the policy risk losing credentials that provide access to the Pentagon.
Asked Sunday if the Pentagon should play a role in determining what journalists can report, Trump said, “No, I don’t think so.”
Trump sued numerous media organizations for negative coverage, with several settling with the president for millions of dollars. A federal judge in Florida tossed out Trump’s $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times on Friday.
Jimmy Kimmel ouster
The most headline-grabbing situation involves ABC’s indefinite suspension Wednesday of veteran comic Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show. What he said about Charlie Kirk’s killing led a group of ABC-affiliated stations to say it would not air the show and provoked some ominous comments from a top federal regulator.
Trump celebrated on his social media site: “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done.”
Earlier in the day, the Federal Communications Commission chairman, Brendan Carr, who has launched investigations of outlets that have angered Trump, said Kimmel’s comments were “truly sick” and that his agency has a strong case for holding Kimmel, ABC and network parent Walt Disney Co. accountable for spreading misinformation.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said. “These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
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