Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., says President Donald Trump is escalating what she describes as a coordinated effort to target her. Her comments came after Trump directed the Justice Department to review remarks she made warning young Republicans they could face “a ton of problems” if they joined his administration.
In a Truth Social post over the weekend, Trump accused Democrats of using government power for political purposes and criticized Slotkin over her October remarks. He said he was ordering the Justice Department to investigate what he called a criminal act.
Slotkin defended her comments in a video posted Monday, saying she was talking about people who might be asked to break the law or misuse taxpayer money. She also invoked her First Amendment rights.
“Anyone who is violating the law or misusing taxpayer dollars should be held accountable,” Slotkin said. Young people considering joining people who do that, she added, should think twice. “If you’re not violating the law — no problem.”
Slotkin says Trump’s response intensified after midterm gains
Slotkin said Trump began criticizing her after her October remarks, initially mentioning her from the Oval Office. She said his response grew more forceful after Democrats made gains in the midterm elections.
She also pointed to Attorney General Todd Blanche’s television interviews on Sunday, in which he discussed the possibility of investigations. Slotkin said her lawyer sent the Justice Department a letter Monday asking what action it planned to take.
The Justice Department has not said whether it has opened an investigation. Asked on CNN’s “State of the Union” whether Democrats’ rhetoric could amount to a crime, Blanche did not identify a specific offense. “It depends on what’s said. So, yes, it could be,” he said.
A Justice Department spokesperson said Slotkin’s remarks should be assessed according to the facts and the law, but did not confirm that an investigation was underway.
Ethics complaint followed Slotkin’s remarks
Slotkin’s October comments also led to a congressional ethics complaint. Michael Bicksel, a University of Chicago student who first publicized the remarks, filed it with the Senate Select Committee on Ethics on Oct. 22.
Bicksel said Slotkin had suggested using congressional investigations and possible prosecutions to discourage young people from joining a Republican administration. He asked the committee to consider whether her comments amounted to conduct that could reflect poorly on the Senate.
Slotkin has called the backlash a “coordinated, manufactured response” intended to intimidate people into silence.
She made the remarks Oct. 13 during a University of Chicago discussion about how Democrats could use congressional power if they regained control of Congress. Slotkin said Democrats should pursue major cases against people who enabled Trump, rather than focusing only on the president. She also argued that the possibility of legal consequences might discourage young Republicans from joining his administration.
The dispute follows a separate Justice Department investigation involving Slotkin and five other Democratic lawmakers. They had posted a video reminding military and intelligence personnel that they were not required to follow unlawful orders. A federal grand jury declined to indict the lawmakers.
In a letter made public Monday, Slotkin’s attorney, Preet Bharara, argued that her remarks were protected by the First Amendment and the Constitution’s speech or debate clause. He urged Blanche to publicly confirm that the Justice Department would not investigate the senator.
“Just like last time, Senator Slotkin will not be deterred,” Bharara wrote. He said she would continue speaking out against corruption and what he called the president’s abuses of power.
