President Donald Trump has accused Democrats of extortion, claiming they are threatening Republican lawmakers with impeachment despite acknowledging that they have no grounds to pursue it.
The president, still facing the fallout from what he described as a disastrous “bluenami” midterm result, called for an investigation into what he labeled “extortion at the highest level.”
Trump urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to immediately examine the alleged threats and specifically named Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin.
In a Saturday post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The Democrats are going around threatening a lot of people, including the Attorney General of the United States, and others, with Impeachment and many other forms of punishment, even though they admit they have no reason to do so, and there have been no impeachable acts committed, or even thought of, by the victims of this illegal process.
“This is extortion at the highest level, and they should be held accountable for this.”
He further alleged that Democrats were targeting Republican donors with threats of “imprisonment and many other levels of punishment” solely because they support the GOP.
“This is Weaponization and Lawfare at another level,” Trump wrote.
“The Senator from Michigan, Elissa Slotkin, is saying that she is going to go after all young people that believe in Republican Values, and that give even the slightest inclination to be a Republican.
Donald Trump called on the Department of Justice to immediately investigate Democrats he says are issuing threats, naming Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin specifically
“This is extortion at the highest level, and they should be held accountable for this,” Trump wrote on Truth Social
“The imprisonment should be against these EXTORTIONISTS, and Republicans should get smart, fast!”
Trump also claimed that some Republicans had received threatening letters and said he was directing the DOJ to investigate what he called an immediate criminal matter.
The contents of the letters and the identities of their recipients have not been disclosed.
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This outlet has contacted the White House, the DOJ and Slotkin’s office for comment.
Trump’s remarks came after he suggested that additional members of his inner circle could be dismissed, following Friday’s announcement that Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was leaving her post.
The 80-year-old president appeared on 60 Minutes yesterday, only hours before announcing Wiles’ departure and naming Stephen Miller as her replacement.
“I do,” the Republican said when journalist Ross Douthat asked whether he expected to remove anyone after his party suffered heavy losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress and flipped deeply Republican Texas, electing Gina Hinojosa as governor and James Talarico to the Senate.
Trump wrote that Slotkin was targeting young people who support Republican values, adding that “imprisonment should be against these EXTORTIONISTS” and urging Republicans to act quickly
“I love my cabinet, I think they’re good,” Trump said. “But I’ll be doing maybe a few changes. I don’t want to mention who.”
Sources told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that tensions within the remaining cabinet had created a “knives out” atmosphere.
“It’s hard to overstate, really just how factionalized that environment has become in the last several days alone,” Collins said.
“Aides that I’ve spoken with have described a workplace filled with tension and infighting, likening it to the knives-out days of the president’s first term.”
According to Collins’ sources, Wiles’ departure is expected to further accelerate the power shift already taking place inside the administration.
CNN sources said Trump blamed Wiles for the Republican Party’s poor showing in the midterm elections.
Trump, however, told reporters Friday that Wiles’ departure was “not because of the election.”
