Stephen Miller, Pete Hegseth, Todd Blanche and Jared Kushner are among the Trump officials and family members Democrats named as investigation targets before taking office. None has been charged with a crime.
Summarized by Jennifer Rae Vliet, News Editor of The Plain Truth
Original reporting by Antonio Graceffo, The Gateway Pundit
The Trump DOJ order of Nov. 7 directed the Justice Department to look into Democratic lawmakers. Trump acted after Democrats named people they intend to investigate or impeach. He called their plans extortion and said the people they named had committed no impeachable acts.
What prompted the Trump DOJ order?
According to Graceffo, Democratic lawmakers named several people they intend to scrutinize after the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3. They included White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Democrats also named former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Graceffo reported that none of the five faced criminal charges at the time.
Why Trump singled out Elissa Slotkin
Trump pointed to comments by Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. In October, Slotkin said she wanted college graduates to consider the potential consequences of taking jobs in the Trump administration. She described her remarks as a message meant to deter them.
Slotkin had also organized a 2025 video urging service members to refuse illegal orders. In February, a Washington grand jury declined to indict lawmakers over the video. Slotkin later said prosecutors had acted at Trump’s direction.
Where the Justice Department stood
Attorney General Todd Blanche defended Trump’s directive in a CNN interview. He argued that Slotkin’s remarks crossed a line by warning prospective employees that they could face repercussions for joining the administration.
As of Nov. 7, the Justice Department had yet to announce a formal investigation, according to Graceffo’s report. Meanwhile, the lawmakers’ proposed investigations remained plans for the incoming Congress, which was still weeks away from convening.
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