DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Palus Politicus Trump calls for jailing his perceived opponents in Justice Department speech

Speaking from the Great Hall of the Justice Department, Trump targeted former special counsel Jack Smith and referred to Jan. 6 rioters as “hostages.”

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump defended his allies Friday while calling for his perceived political opponents to be jailed during a speech at the headquarters of the Justice Department — an agency that was prosecuting him just months ago.

Trump called U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who helped dismiss his classified documents case, a “brilliant” judge, while condemning “horrible human beings” whom he accused of disparaging Cannon.

“It’s totally illegal what they do. I just hope you can all watch for it, but it’s totally illegal, and it was so unfair what they were doing to her,” Trump said.

After deeming the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 as “the most humiliating time in this history of our country,” Trump repeated his false claims of a rigged election in 2020.

"What a difference a rigged and crooked election had on our country, when you think about it. And the people who did this to us should go to jail. They should go to jail," he said, without specifying anyone by name. Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that Democrats interfered in the 2020 contest.

On Friday he also said, "Our predecessors turned this department of justice into the department of injustice," adding that he would “insist upon and demand full and complete accountability for the wrongs and abuses that have occurred.”

Calling former special counsel Jack Smith “deranged,” Trump referred to the hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants he pardoned on his first day in office as “hostages” and said the Justice Department would not return to what he declared as an era of weaponization.

“Those days are over, and they are never going to come back,” Trump said.

Trump was indicted in two separate federal cases: one involving his handling of classified documents, and another involving his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. The cases were dismissed after the 2024 election, and career prosecutors who had worked on Smith’s team were fired when Trump took office, as were numerous federal prosecutors who handled Jan. 6 cases.

Trump’s remarks are not the first time he has called to imprison his political opponents. But the venue of his speech — delivering the remarks at the Justice Department to a room full of its top officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel — demonstrates how his previous campaign threats of vengeance and retribution have taken on significantly higher stakes now that he wields the enormous power of the presidency.

Trump noted the significance of his remarks at the Justice Department, on Friday becoming the third president this century to deliver a speech at the agency’s headquarters.

“I was asked to do it, and I said, ‘Is it appropriate that I do it?’ And then I realized it’s not only appropriate, I think it’s really important, and I may never do it again,” Trump said. “I may never have another chance to do it again, because this is something that I’m leaving to the greatest people I know, the best people, the smartest people, the toughest people I know, and they’re going to do an incredible job.”

When Trump finished his speech, a mainstay of his campaign rallies, the song “Y.M.C.A.,” played over the speakers inside the Justice Department’s Great Hall.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/ju...nts-justice-department-speech-rcna196515

Trump suggests media outlets be deemed illegal

President Trump railed against the media on Friday, suggesting some of the actions of the press be deemed illegal and should be investigated.

In a speech at the Department of Justice (DOJ), during which Trump railed against people and entities that he claims have targeted him, said he views CNN and MSNBC as corrupt.

“I believe that CNN and MS-DNC, who literally write 97.6 percent bad about me, are political arms of the Democrat Party and in my opinion, they’re really corrupt and they’re illegal, what do they do is illegal,” Trump said.

He also claimed the media outlets work in coordination and that their reporting is able to influence the opinions of judges.

“These networks and these newspapers are really no different than a highly paid political operative,” Trump said.

“And it has to stop, it has to be illegal, it’s influencing judges and it’s really changing law, and it just cannot be legal. I don’t believe it’s legal, and they do it in total coordination with each other,” he added.

Trump’s speech at the DOJ was rare for any president. During his remarks, he attacked the Biden administration, claimed he has been politically persecuted, and name-checked those he thinks have unfairly targeted him.

The White House and the news media have sparred in recent weeks, including when the administration announced it would take over the press pool, taking that control away from the White House Correspondents’ Association.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said last month that moving forward, the White House press pool, a small group of reporters that travels with and covers the president’s daily activities, will now be determined by administration officials.

The White House is also in an ongoing fight with The Associated Press over the outlet’s decision not to fully adopt the name Gulf of America instead of Gulf of Mexico into its widely influential Stylebook, used by news media organizations across the U.S.

The White House has restricted the AP’s access to the Oval Office and Air Force One, not allowing the outlet to be in the press pool, and the AP is challenging the White House’s action in court.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5195881-trump-media-illegal/

Odd. No mention of how FOX News, OAN or Newsmax TV operate. Actually it's not add at all. They kiss his ass so in trumplandia they are fine.

Trump signs order targeting Democratic-tied law firm

President Donald Trump expanded his crackdown on Democratic-tied law firms Friday with an executive order suspending security clearances for lawyers and staff at the New York law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. The order also imposes restrictions on their access to federal buildings and officials.

The order says it aims to sever federal ties with a number of law firms “to address some of the significant risks and egregious conduct associated with lawfirms,” claiming that Paul, Weiss “may have engaged in activities that make our communities less safe, increase burdens on local businesses, limit constitutional freedoms, and degrade the quality of American elections.”

It directs authorities to suspend the security clearances of people at the firm “pending a review of whether such clearances are consistent with the national interest,” and mandates federal agencies to review and terminate their contracts with Paul, Weiss and companies doing business with it. Government agencies are also required to disclose any business they have with the firm “and whether that business is related to the subject of the Government contract.”

The order also directs the heads of agencies to provide guidance limiting the access of Paul, Weiss employees to government buildings and limiting government employees from engaging with them when it “would threaten the national security of or otherwise be inconsistent with the interests of the United States.”

The New York law firm, whose security clearances were suspended under this executive order, has connections to prominent Democrats whom Trump has criticized for their involvement in investigations into his actions and conduct.

Other firms targeted: It joins a string of firms to face action by Trump. So far, the president has targeted employees at Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling, both of which he accused of conspiring against him in elections.

Firm’s response: A spokesperson for Paul, Weiss said the executive order focuses on the activities of Mark Pomerantz, who is a former senior prosecutor on the Manhattan district attorney’s team investigating Trump, and his organization’s business dealings. Pomerantz “retired from the firm in 2012 and went on to work at the District Attorney’s office nearly a decade later. Mr. Pomerantz has not been affiliated with the firm for years,” the spokesperson told CNN in a statement.

Trump directly criticized Pomerantz during a speech at the Justice Department on Friday.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-administration-presidency-03-15-25/index.html

People must have forgotten what a dictator acts like.

Constitution? What Constitution?

Where the hell are republicans? What are they doing? Gutless wonders sitting back letting this Hitler wanna-be rip the constitution and this country to pieces. They are all bought and paid for by Musk and/or Putin.... Who by the way, seems to always dress like a third world dictator.

Republicans have the ability to stop him or at least to slow him down. What will it take to get them up off their collective arses?

LOL...you guys are funny.

It fun to watch the self destruction of the Dem party.

You're missing the broader point.These boys are all auditioning for a spot on the View.Some of them really need to step up their game,with Whoopie and Joy on set there's not much room left at the table.

I find it funny that the right-wingers think everything is good because Trump… that’s the most laughable crap I’ve ever seen. When y’all finally wake up, it will be too late for you.

So nothing to say about trump basically instructing the DOJ to go after the press and everyone else he thinks has wronged him? What the hell happened to you?

So you don't care about the constitution either? Typical. Nothing of substance. You think owing he libs means more than the law itself. Your party has abandoned everything you used to claim you stood for.

And you belong to the Party of Law And Order, when it suits you!

It is pretty sad when they think targeting the free press by calling those who disagree with him illegal and and telling the justice department officials that his political enemies should be jailed is a party issue. It wasn't long ago that all across the globe anyone who did those things was called a dictator and stood for everything that goes against what America believes in and stands for. But then when they insist on ignoring it what else can they do?

You just described the totality of MAGA’s entire platform.

Apply the DOGE Holy Metrics to Congress so no waste or double standards. Outlaw golf. Tariffs on clubs, balls, gear, courses and memberships. All tariffs and cash saved goes to national debt so it can't be siphoned off for tax breaks. Are we great yet?

Also, be careful what you wish for… Im getting the sense of an undertow within the Dem party that likens a lot back to the TEA Party in 2013 and the ultimate rise in Trump. The constituents want change and it’s becoming louder. The status quo on that end is causing outrage.

People like AOC were once seen as fringe, but I think she has a real shot to take on Schumer in the next primary.

If DOGE crashes and burns (deficit and spending both go up), things could get interesting.

I don't agree with AOC views on things, but credit to her and Bernie for speaking out while the rest of the dems do nothing. Her and Bernie are visiting a red district in Colorado for a rally this week. There is also the case of republicans having virtual town halls and being afraid to face their constituents. I've seen dems holding in-person town halls in republican districts.

I agree completely.

Biden tried hard to jail Trump. But he arranged it behind closed doors. Trump is just in your face about it. Libtards keep crying.

Sorry pal, AOC is fringe. So are the people who vote for her. But that is NY these days. I won't boycott the state of NY because most of the state isn't like NYC, but since it is so big it can pretty much carry the state. I have written off NYC. I won't spend any of my money around there anymore. I just won't.

It's too bad. My wife and I for years have liked to visit NYC...eat at a few restaurants, catch a few Broadway plays, hit a museum or two, but those days are over, at least as things now stand. There are good restaurants all over, once you have been to a museum a time or two you have seen it, and I can wait a year or two to catch the touring Broadway edition of any play we might want to see.

If that is the way they want to act, that is their right but I am not going to help support it with any of my money.

I agree that AOC might be able to supplant Schurmer, but how hard could that be?

You've entirely missed the point.

You're starting to see Republican voters getting angry at MAGA for not looking like they're following through on campaign promises (rising prices, namely) and Republicans not listening to their constituents (cancelling and walking out of townhalls). Walz and AOC have seen this as an opportunity and even the likes of them will start to gain in popularity by trying to be more connected to voters.

Exactly. Add in the fact that Dem constituents also don't see establishment leaders like Schumer as strong enough advocates, and you have the reverse effect of 2013.

Oh, the irony.

Show anything that links Biden to the actions of the DOJ or state prosecutors. Only a jury can convict someone and a jury did. You'll blame everyone but the jury that convicted trump. He is a convicted felon and poor trump. It's everyone elses fault according to Republitards.

There is no irony here. Your perception is sadly twisted.