ISLAMABAD (PEN) : In a combative speech at the Justice Department on Friday, former U.S. President Donald Trump launched a fierce critique of judges, prosecutors, and officials from the previous Biden administration, vowing to hold them “accountable” and warning of potential legal action against his political adversaries.
Trump Demands Accountability for Alleged Abuses
During his remarks at the Justice Department headquarters, Trump asserted that his re-election was a public mandate to investigate the alleged “abuses” that occurred under former President Joe Biden’s tenure. He vowed to push for full accountability, saying, “I will insist upon and demand full and complete accountability for the wrongs and abuses that have occurred.”
Trump’s speech, seen by many critics as an attempt to settle political scores, reignited concerns about his potential to target his political opponents using his authority. Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump has repeatedly labeled Democrats as “the enemy from within” and even suggested prosecuting high-profile Republicans like Liz Cheney, further fueling speculation about his approach to handling political rivals.
Purging the Justice Department
Since beginning his second term on January 20, Trump has taken action to dismiss thousands of federal employees, including several career prosecutors involved in investigations against him. These include probes related to classified documents and alleged election interference in 2020. Following his election victory in November, both cases were dropped in accordance with a Justice Department policy that typically does not pursue charges against sitting presidents.
Trump framed these dismissals as part of a broader effort to expel what he described as “rogue actors and corrupt forces” from the government. He revealed that he had recently dismissed all “radical left pro-crime US attorneys” appointed by Joe Biden, calling them “Marxists” and “corrupt,” although he acknowledged that some of them might have been competent in their roles. Trump’s remarks hinted at further removals, claiming that the upcoming changes would be “legendary.”
Legal Challenges and Media Criticism
Trump, who is the first former or sitting U.S. president to face criminal charges, has encountered numerous legal battles. He faces four separate indictments, including two federal cases, one in Georgia concerning election interference, and another in New York related to hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. In the New York case, Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts but ultimately received an unconditional discharge with no punishment.
Dismissive of the verdicts, Trump used his Friday address to attack the judicial system, accusing it of being politically motivated. He also criticized journalists, claiming they were attempting to “illegally sway” judges, accusing them of engaging in election interference by covering his legal challenges. “They take such abuse,” Trump said, referring to the judges involved in his cases, and suggested that media coverage of the trials could be considered illegal in some form.
Praise for Judge Cannon and Weaponization Allegations
Trump singled out Florida federal Judge Aileen Cannon, who had been criticized for her handling of the classified documents case. He praised her, calling her “the absolute model of what a judge should be” and defending her against what he described as unfair attacks from “fake lawyers” and “horrible human beings.”
The former president also reiterated his long-standing claims that the Justice Department had been “weaponized” against him, accusing officials of conspiring to undermine his presidency. He concluded by asserting that his administration would “turn the page” on four years of “corruption, weaponization, and surrender to violent criminals.”
Classified Documents and FBI’s Role
Trump further revealed that since regaining office, the FBI had returned classified documents that had been seized from his Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022. This development has sparked backlash from legal experts, as Trump had previously been accused of mishandling sensitive government materials.
Concluding his remarks, Trump quoted English philosopher John Locke, whose words—“Wherever law ends, tyranny begins”—are inscribed on the Justice Department’s limestone walls. Despite his repeated threats against political opponents, he argued, “You can’t go after your political opponent,” suggesting a philosophical position against such actions even while hinting at using his power to do so.
