Trump orders the Justice Department to investigate Democrats he calls extortionists

Days after Democrats won control of Congress, Trump's newest legal theory is that talking about impeachment is a crime, and that his Justice Department should investigate it.

On Saturday at 12:45pm ET he posted that Democrats are "threatening a lot of people, including the Attorney General of the United States, and others, with Impeachment and many other forms of punishment," which he called "extortion at the highest level." He said Democrats were also threatening "our Donors… with imprisonment… just because they happen to be Republicans, or Republican supporters." He named Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, claiming she "is saying that she is going to go after all young people that believe in Republican Values." Then: "The imprisonment should be against these EXTORTIONISTS." "Threatening letters have been sent to many people, all innocent, from Democrat Political Leaders." And: "By copy of this statement, I am ordering the Department of Justice to look into this criminal act, immediately!"

CNBC reported that he did not specify the alleged letters, senders or recipients, and did not provide evidence of criminal conduct. What Slotkin actually said, at a University of Chicago event in mid-October, was that she wanted young people leaving school to ask, "Should I go work for the Trump administration?" and to think that might be "buying myself a ton of problems that I don't want." "I want that deterrence message sent." She later told CNN her point was, "do not get yourself involved in illegal activity."

At 1:45pm ET he posted again: the alleged threats were "absolutely unprecedented, and totally illegal." "Please report them to the Department of Justice, IMMEDIATELY! If you would like, send them directly to me, your President." "These SLEAZEBAGS should go to jail for what they are doing." He also said "The Senate must act, and stop being pushed around to the point of the Republican Party losing Elections, and worse!" The same Justice Department previously investigated Slotkin and other Democrats over a 2025 video urging service members to refuse illegal orders; CNBC notes a federal grand jury later declined to indict them. AP has called both the House and the Senate for Democrats.