Donald Trump Reportedly Outlined Plan For Punitive Actions Against Critics In Potential Second Term

Former president Donald Trump is reportedly laying down plans to use federal government resources to penalize critics and opponents if he secures a second term.

Trump has privately expressed his intentions to investigate or prosecute several individuals, including ex-officials and allies who have criticized his time in office, reported The Washington Post. These individuals include his former chief of staff, John F. Kelly, and former attorney general William P. Barr, among others, as per sources who wished to remain anonymous.

Publicly, Trump promised to appoint a special prosecutor to probe President Joe Biden and his family, despite the lack of substantial evidence to support his corruption accusations. To facilitate such actions, Trump’s associates are reportedly working to circumvent policies meant to protect criminal prosecutions from political influences.

The right-wing think tanks in Washington, collaborating under the name “Project 2025,” are aiding Trump’s preparations for a potential second term. This includes plans to invoke the Insurrection Act, which gives the president the authority to deploy the military for domestic law enforcement.

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Trump’s spokesman, Steven Cheung, declined to comment on specific actions under consideration, stating instead that Trump is concentrating on defeating his primary election opponents and upholding law and order.

The former president has previously threatened to take punitive actions against those he perceives as his enemies, using the prosecutions against him as justification. Trump continues to claim without evidence that the criminal charges against him, totaling 91 across four state and federal indictments, are politically motivated.

The plans being discussed reflect Trump’s resolve to use the presidency to retaliate against those who have opposed or criticized him if he returns to the White House. It remains unclear what alleged crimes or evidence Trump would claim to validate investigations into his named targets.

Modern presidents since the Watergate scandal have strived to separate politics from law enforcement. However, Trump allies such as Russ Vought, his former budget director, are actively rejecting the tradition of the Department of Justice’s independence, arguing it is not based on law or the Constitution.

Trump’s focus on prosecuting perceived enemies reflects his interest in the Justice Department. In discussions about a potential second term, Trump has made the selection of an attorney general his top priority, a Trump adviser revealed.

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