NEW DELHI: In a recent interview with Univision, former US president Donald Trump has implied that if he gets re-elected, he would consider using the FBI and the Justice Department to target his political adversaries, The Guardian reported.
During the interview with host Enrique Acevedo, Trump responded to questions about his legal challenges, suggesting that he might use these government agencies for political purposes, similar to what he believes his opponents have done.
Trump said, “They’ve already done it, but if they want to follow through on this, yeah, it could certainly happen in reverse. They’ve released the genie out of the box.”
“When you’re president and you’ve done a good job and you’re popular, you don’t go after them so you can win an election. They’ve done indictments in order to win an election. They call it weaponization,” he added.
Trump went on to say, “But yeah they have done something that allows the next party, I mean if somebody, if I happen to be president and I see somebody who’s doing well and beating me very badly, I say go down and indict them, mostly they would be out of business. They’d be out. They’d be out of the election.” “They call it weaponization, and the people aren’t going to stand for it,” he said.
As reported by The Independent, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign said in a statement to Axios after the interview was broadcast, Mr. Trump’s remarks were in “terms of future elected officials who see Biden going after his political opponent in this disgusting manner, it sets a dangerous example”.
As the clear frontrunner in the Republican race for the 2024 nomination, with no substantial challengers emerging, Trump’s remarks underscore the potential consolidation of power.
According to The Washington Post, Trump and his allies are reportedly exploring ways to leverage the justice department to prosecute those who have opposed him, including figures like former attorney general Bill Barr and ex-chief of staff John Kelly. There are also reports of Trump contemplating the use of the Insurrection Act, potentially deploying the military against domestic protesters on his first day back in office if he comes back in power.
During the interview with host Enrique Acevedo, Trump responded to questions about his legal challenges, suggesting that he might use these government agencies for political purposes, similar to what he believes his opponents have done.
Trump said, “They’ve already done it, but if they want to follow through on this, yeah, it could certainly happen in reverse. They’ve released the genie out of the box.”
“When you’re president and you’ve done a good job and you’re popular, you don’t go after them so you can win an election. They’ve done indictments in order to win an election. They call it weaponization,” he added.
Trump went on to say, “But yeah they have done something that allows the next party, I mean if somebody, if I happen to be president and I see somebody who’s doing well and beating me very badly, I say go down and indict them, mostly they would be out of business. They’d be out. They’d be out of the election.” “They call it weaponization, and the people aren’t going to stand for it,” he said.
As reported by The Independent, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign said in a statement to Axios after the interview was broadcast, Mr. Trump’s remarks were in “terms of future elected officials who see Biden going after his political opponent in this disgusting manner, it sets a dangerous example”.
As the clear frontrunner in the Republican race for the 2024 nomination, with no substantial challengers emerging, Trump’s remarks underscore the potential consolidation of power.
According to The Washington Post, Trump and his allies are reportedly exploring ways to leverage the justice department to prosecute those who have opposed him, including figures like former attorney general Bill Barr and ex-chief of staff John Kelly. There are also reports of Trump contemplating the use of the Insurrection Act, potentially deploying the military against domestic protesters on his first day back in office if he comes back in power.
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