As Donald J. Trump returns to office, the critics, prosecutors, and perceived enemies who tried to hold him accountable and banish him from American politics now seize power with a vow of revenge. I am facing a president with considerable anxiety.
Trump has promised to investigate and punish his opponents, especially those involved in his four indictments and the congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
These threats, along with his stated intention to pardon at least some of those who carried out the January 6th assault, have worried many in Washington and elsewhere. Afraid not only of government action against them, but also of telegraphing his wishes. It created an environment of unpredictable and arbitrary retaliation by his supporters.
Michael Fanone, a former police officer who was attacked by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021, has been an outspoken critic of Trump. He said he feared the violence and threats already directed against him and his family, including his mother, would worsen after Trump returned to office.
“My biggest concern is the possibility of continued violence and acts of violence, not only against me but against my family,” he said. “My concern is that if people physically attack me or my family, they will believe that Donald Trump will forgive them for their actions. And who is to say that he will not forgive?”
The New York Times contacted more than two dozen of Mr. Trump's most outspoken critics and perceived enemies to ask about their level of concern. Despite having spoken out in the past or joined the lawsuit against him, nearly all of them declined to speak publicly about their concerns, saying they feared they would become even more prominent targets if they did so now.
However, they expressed their concerns on condition of anonymity.
Some feared that even if they acted lawfully and honestly, the Justice Department or FBI would launch internal or criminal investigations into their actions while on the job. The fact that Kash Patel, Trump's pick for FBI director, has released an extensive list of enemies only adds to their fears.
Some feared the loss of private sector jobs and customers. Others, like Fanone, said they take seriously the possibility that President Trump's supporters may heed calls for retaliation and harass or attack them or their families. They said Trump's plan to pardon some participants in the January 6 riot would further erode rule of law norms and make matters worse.
Although Trump has repeatedly threatened retaliation, some aides and advisers have suggested his words should not always be taken literally. “I don't want to go back in time,” he said on NBC's “Meet the Press” last month, adding that he believes the attorney general and FBI director will use their discretion to investigate enemies like the United States. said. Members of the House Select Committee on January 6th.
In response to a question about whether Mr. Trump intended to weaponize the government against his enemies, a spokesperson for the transition team claimed without evidence that Mr. blamed the president.
During Trump's first term, many people who were the targets of Trump's frequent investigations and other calls for retribution were placed under government surveillance, costing them time, money, reputations, and their lives. It caused great anxiety to the family.
In some cases, Trump himself may not need to take action because his allies will act on his behalf. House Republicans reported last month that former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, who helped lead the investigation into the Jan. 6 riot and its causes, should be investigated by the FBI for her work on the committee. published a book. And Republicans on Capitol Hill are considering whether to call former special counsel Jack Smith, who pursued two federal criminal cases against Trump, to testify.
Fears of retribution are already weighing on the public against Trump, as business executives and other celebrities who have previously distanced themselves or criticized him are rushing to criticize him. Some say that it has had some effect in suppressing criticism. Let them know your support.
One of the few who was willing to speak out was Charles Kupperman, Trump's former vice national security adviser, whom Patel listed as one of her enemies in her book. Kupperman said he was willing to speak publicly because he wanted the public to know how unqualified Patel was to be FBI director, given his temperament and lack of qualifications.
“What are they going to do to me?” he said. “I am 74 years old and have been married for 55 years, and I am satisfied that I have done everything to help the country and build a better future for my family.Personally, I am not worried. I still believe that the rule of law will prevail when something happens.”
A public critic of Trump, who played a key role in one of the efforts to hold Trump accountable during his first term, said in an interview that Trump recently bought a gun for the first time in his life. He said it was because he was afraid of being attacked. Emboldened by a president's willingness to pardon, his supporters will attack him and his family at home.
One of the many Republicans on Patel's list of enemies is proud of his government work, but the publication of his name has emboldened many fervent Trump supporters. He said he was concerned that his family would be targeted.
A Democratic lawyer who has publicly heckled Trump for years said he was concerned that Trump's comments could lead to retaliation not only against him but also against his legal clients, and noted in this article. He refused to make any remaining statements. He has advised others in his situation to hold off on firing until they have had a chance to see how far Trump is willing to go.
One outgoing White House official who was present at many of the Biden administration's major decisions said with a laugh that he has a two-step plan for the immediate future.
Step 1: Take a long vacation on the other side of the world.
Step 2: Return home and hire a lawyer.
For many people, strengthening their defenses has already begun. Prominent witnesses and investigators who have participated in various government investigations into Mr. Trump are confident that they too will be investigated by Congress and the Justice Department, and that they are confident that they too will be investigated by Congress and the Justice Department, and that they, too, will be subject to investigations by Congress and the Justice Department. We have a powerful Washington law firm that specializes in representing Fortune 500 companies facing serious problems. Legal and Regulatory Issues.
Those close to Mr. Trump have acknowledged that they are involved to some extent in what Mr. Trump has long called a “witch hunt'' that includes retaliation for the failed impeachment, congressional investigations, and criminal prosecution. And they enjoy instilling fear in people who, in their view, have been hunting them for years.
But this fear campaign also has a practical purpose. It also serves as a force multiplier at a time when Trump's outnumbered political appointees at large federal agencies are forced to rely on experienced Washington-area federal officials whom they view as enemies.
According to several people close to the Trump campaign, one of the goals of the transition period was to demoralize and intimidate liberal career bureaucrats, particularly at the Justice Department, and induce them to resign and remain in office. The aim was to make it clear that everyone must comply. Those who fail to comply with the orders of President Trump's appointees face reassignment, reassignment and disciplinary action.
During the four years Trump was out of office, he was the subject of a major congressional investigation, was indicted four times, was charged with sexual abuse and defamation, and lost a civil lawsuit costing hundreds of millions of dollars. , a convicted felon in a Manhattan courtroom. The process brought to light new people whom he spent much of his 2020 presidential campaign saying he wanted to target once he returned to the White House.
Trump is currently facing a ruling by the Supreme Court that says presidents are not prohibited from consulting with the attorney general about cases and that former presidents enjoy broad immunity from prosecution for official actions they took while in office. He is scheduled to become president.
Trump's pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, tried to quell fears during her confirmation hearing this week that she would pursue a punitive investigation against Patel and other Trump-identified enemies. did.
But she did not completely rule out the possibility of ordering an investigation at Trump's behest if she reached that conclusion independently, deemed it worthwhile, and did so in accordance with the law.
Fears aroused among many of the people targeted by Mr. Trump and his allies in the immediate aftermath of the election have eased somewhat, with some predicting that the Justice Department and FBI will experience a mass exodus of career employees. This is a bulwark against partisan investigations, but the truth has not yet been revealed.
Biden White House officials were prepared to consider a significant number of preemptive pardons for people in Trump's sights. But they said they were surprised that many people they contacted, particularly members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack, said they did not want a pardon because it would set a bad precedent. Ta.
Nevertheless, senior administration officials said there was still a chance that those with a more positive response could be granted pardons before leaving office on Monday.
