Top Dem cries ‘weaponization’ as comments warning young people not to join Trump admin land her in hot water
Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., is accusing President Donald Trump of escalating a coordinated "weaponization" campaign against her after he ordered the Justice Department to examine remarks she made warning young Republicans they could face "a ton of problems" if they joined his administration.
Key points
- "A couple weeks ago, I talked about how anyone who is violating the law or misusing taxpayer dollars should be held accountable, and if there's young people who are thinking of joining people who are doing that, they should think twice," Slotkin said.
- "If you're not violating the law — no problem." DEMS PIVOT FROM 'AFFORDABILITY' PITCH TO DHS PROBE THREATS AFTER MIDTERM WINS Slotkin said Trump began targeting her after her October remarks, first by "name-checking" her from the Oval Office before he "really ramped up his coordinated play" following Democrats’ midterm election gains.
- "It's a coordinated, manufactured response," Slotkin previously said about the backlash to her remarks concerning young Trump supporters.
In a Truth Social post over the weekend, President Trump accused Democrats of political weaponization and singled out Slotkin for "go[ing] after all young people that believe in Republican values" in her October remarks.
Additional details
- Fox News Digital previously reported that Slotkin advocated pursuing "signature cases" against people who enabled Trump rather than focusing exclusively on the president.
- Michael Bicksel, a University of Chicago student who first publicized her comments, filed the complaint with the Senate Select Committee on Ethics on Oct.
- SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER In a letter to Blanche made public Monday, Slotkin's attorney, Preet Bharara, argued that her remarks were protected by the First Amendment and the Constitution's speech or debate clause.
- Slotkin said her attorney sent the Justice Department a letter Monday asking, "What are you going to do?" The Justice Department has not confirmed whether it has opened an investigation into Slotkin.
- So, yes, it could be." A DOJ spokesperson separately told NBC News that Slotkin’s comments should be evaluated under the facts and law but did not confirm an investigation.
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