Ex-GOP presidential aide says 'no one is safe' from Trump's lawfare

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S., May 20, 2026. REUTERSEvelyn Hockstein

According to an ex-presidential aide, President Donald Trump’s fishing expedition against one of the Democrats’ presumed 2028 election front-runners, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, proves “no one is safe” from the Republican president and his politicized DOJ.

“Federal agents abusing the powers that they had when surveilling civil rights leaders have taken off after the governor of California, which means, unless you're not too bright, if they can do it to Gavin Newsom, they can do it to anybody,” warned Steve Schmidt, who advised Republican president, George W. Bush. “And thinking about that, how close is it that we came to the US military being deployed on the streets, an ICE army behind them or in front of them, commanded by Stephen Miller, with the power to detain whomever they wanted, wherever they wished?”

Adding that Trump has reportedly talked about eliminating the writ of habeas corpus, which guarantees the government “can't just lock you up without reason or cause and has existed in English common law for a thousand years,” Schmidt added that Trump aspires to transform America “from a republic to a police state.” Comparing Trump’s order to investigators to find something about Newsom and/or his family members, Schmidt added that this is like Russia under its dictator, Vladimir Putin.

“It is unacceptable, and it must not be stood for,” Schmidt declared. “This is why, in the months ahead, as the contours of the debate take shape, there can be no compromise on this simple, fundamental, absolutely important principle” — namely that, unlike the forgiving approach of President Joe Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland, after Trump there should be “no more appeasing this lawless evil. Here, in these United States, there will be accountability for every federal agent, every corrupt federal official, from Trump on down, who has made the rule of law in this country a mockery and has trampled on the liberties of the American people, including the governor of California and his lovely wife Jennifer, who deserve better from their president, and better from their country, than to be persecuted for speaking out and participating and leading and standing up.”

In a Monday appearance on MS NOW senior investigative correspondent Carol Leonnig revealed that a fellow reporter, Erum Salam, learned Trump’s Department of Justice is trying to find any case it can to use against him.

"First off, I want to say that we have from sources two really important nuggets," Leonnig said. "One is that the central district of California, the U.S. district attorney's office in the central district, has been pressing the line prosecutors to come up with a case against Gavin Newsom."

Schmidt has also warned more broadly about the loss of faith in American political institutions that has occurred during Trump’s presidency.

“There was a time in America when public disgrace meant something,” Schmidt said. “A man caught lying to the public would resign. A politician caught in corruption would retreat from public life. A leader who dishonored his office would feel the sting of judgment from neighbors, colleagues, family members and strangers.”

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