'Legal, physical and political protection' needed for officials who 'stand up to Trump': analysis

02 December 2024

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly threatened retaliation against his critics — from members of Congress to prosecutors to journalists. And his picks for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), including former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for U.S. attorney general and Kash Patel for FBI director, have indicated that they are fine with Trump's revenge campaign.

Patel, during a 2023 appearance on Steve Bannon's "War Room" podcast, even called for prosecutions of journalists who pushed back against Trump's false, repeatedly debunked claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

In an article published by the conservative website The Bulwark on December 2, journalist Jill Lawrence calls for Trump's opponents to mount a vigorous defense of those have faced "physical threats" or "political threats" for "standing up" to him.

"Pitching in to protect standing up to Trump would strengthen freedom of speech, thought, and conscience among elected officials, and help protect the civil servants we count on without even realizing it," Lawrence argues. "Violence and coercion are not the American way. We need all the help we can get to make sure they don't prevail."

In the months ahead, Lawrence stresses, the president-elect's foes will need to step up to the plate and offer "legal, physical, and political protection for people who fear breaking with or taking on Trump."

"In their short history in U.S. politics," Lawrence explains, "Trump and his MAGA movement have already demonstrated that all perceived enemies, rivals, and critics of Trump are vulnerable. Targets have ranged from state-level election workers and authorities to senators, representatives, military leaders, the federal workforce, and their high-profile bosses…. When Trump and MAGA take offense, people get death threats. Their spouses and families get death threats."

Lawrence continues, "They get fired and they get primaried. They sue or get sued. Paul Pelosi was beaten and nearly killed by a disturbed person trying to find his wife — then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — interrogate her about the FBI investigation Trump calls 'Russiagate,' and maybe 'break her knees.'"

Jill Lawrence's full article for The Bulwark is available at this link.

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