WASHINGTON — Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin has urged Democrats to target young conservatives interested in joining the Trump administration by pursuing legal action against the president’s staff.
Slotkin, a Democrat and former CIA analyst, argued that it is essential for Democrats to “go after” officials close to Trump who are involved in corruption to deter young people from considering a career in his administration. She expressed this sentiment during a recent event at the University of Chicago, which has since gained significant attention.
“I want young people finishing school to think, ‘Should I work for the Trump administration? That seems appealing, I might have an opportunity,’” Slotkin reflected. “But I want them to also consider, ‘Wow, that could lead to a lot of problems I don’t want to deal with, so maybe I should steer clear of that.’”
She pointed out that it’s crucial to pursue major corruption cases rather than simply focusing on Trump himself. “We need accountability for the shocking corruption happening now,” she stated. “But you can’t make that your only focus. You need to identify significant cases and go after those people and projects that are particularly egregious.”
Slotkin acknowledged that despite her votes to impeach Trump twice, he remains in office, and she implied that he has managed to navigate the four criminal cases against him. “The individuals around Trump who are supporting and enabling him don’t have the same immunity,” she noted, emphasizing the need to hold accountable those who assist him.
Her comments sparked outrage among conservatives on social media. University of Chicago student Michael Bicksel commented, “Sen. Slotkin, who claims to be a ‘defender of democracy,’ threatened me and other conservative students with political persecution if we dare to serve our country in the Trump administration. Unfortunately for her, we won’t be intimidated by her tactics.”
Another conservative figure, Greg Price, criticized Slotkin, saying, “She explicitly said she wants to prosecute anyone who works for President Trump, aiming to instill fear in young conservatives about working in a Republican administration.”
Republican operative Nathan Brand described her statements as “gross,” expressing concern about Slotkin’s threats toward young conservatives wanting to engage in government.
Meanwhile, Trump recently speculated about a mass pardon spree, including the possibility of a self-pardon as his time in office comes to an end. He explained, “I don’t want to see my staff facing years of challenges, hiring lawyers, and all that, only for it to be for nothing,” during a discussion on Newsmax.
