By Steve Neavling
President Donald Trump summoned the nation’s top law enforcement officials to the Oval Office on Wednesday for what appeared to be a show of unity, but the meeting quickly turned into a list of political enemies he wanted prosecuted, The New York Times reports.
According to officials present, Trump named three people he accused of wrongdoing: special counsel Jack Smith, who led two criminal cases against him; former FBI prosecutor Andrew Weissmann; and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.
“Deranged Jack Smith, in my opinion, is a criminal,” Trump said, also urging investigations into Weissmann and Monaco.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, her deputy Todd Blanche, and FBI Director Kash Patel stood by silently, offering no objection. Their deference reflected the administration’s broader pattern of politicizing the Justice Department, as Trump continues to demand prosecutions of perceived foes.
The Justice Department has already brought controversial charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, despite objections from career prosecutors who said evidence was lacking. Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton was charged Thursday with allegedly possessing classified records.
Trump’s latest Oval Office remarks underscored his tightening grip over federal law enforcement. By elevating loyalists like Patel, he has cemented control over agencies once designed to operate independently from presidential politics.
