Weaponizing the Department of Justice for Revenge? Dangerous
Justice and Revenge are not the same thing!
There are literally dozens of examples of how the DOJ has been weaponized by both political parties for years. Trump’s claim that the Republicans are the victims of these attacks is not borne out by facts, as equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans have been indicted and convicted of crime Does the DOJ target more Republicans than Democrats? Here’s the data | CNN Politics.
Justice is the idea that everyone should be treated fairly while revenge seeks to have someone suffer. Revenge is always preceded by anger and is always personal. Justice is “blind.” Justice serves to ensure that the wrongdoer does not repeat his action wrongdoing and to discourage others from doing the same thing in the future. Revenge is taken against someone as a result of an act they did to someone else. Justice is met out in the case of an actual wrongdoing or law that was broken.
In an interview conducted by Sean Hannity during a rally in Cape Giradeau, MO. on November 5, 2018, Trump said he would have every right to seek revenge against his political opponents.
In 2023, Trump discussed how the Biden Administration had weaponized the DOJ because of the many indictments that were issued against then, former President Trump. Instead of commenting how that would not happen if he were President, Trump said, “I mean, if someone if I happen to be president and I see someone who's doing well and beating me very badly, I say go down and indict them. Mostly what that would be, you know, they would be out of business. They'd be out they'd be out of the election.” Roll Call Factba.se - Interview: Enrique Acevedo of Univision Interviews Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago - November 9, 2023
In June of 2024, while being interviewed by psychologist, Phil McGraw (better known as Dr. Phil), Trump said, “revenge does take time. I will say that, and sometimes revenge can be justified, Phil, I have to be honest. You know sometimes it can.”
It is not a coincidence that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken actions against those officials that it perceived as being “disloyal” to Trump. Keep this in mind as we go through our discussion: Justice has nothing to do with loyalty. (That’s why “Justice” is blindfolded). Revenge is not justice because revenge implies that no original injustice occurred.
ABC News on January 27, 2025, just days after the inauguration reported that the Justice Department fired over a dozen officials who were part of former special counsel Jack Smith’s team. The reason for their terminations was stated in letters that read in part that they couldn’t be trusted in “faithfully implementing the president’s agenda.”
Other countries have commented on this phenomenon as well.
- In September of 2025 the Toronto City News stated, “Seven months into his second term, he has accumulated presidential power that he has used against universities, media companies, law firms, and individuals he dislikes. A man who ran for president as an angry victim of a weaponized “deep state” is, in some ways, supercharging government power and training it on his opponents.” How Donald Trump is weaponizing the government to settle personal scores and pursue his agenda
- On September 26, 2025 The Independent.co.uk quoted Trump as he left the White House to attend The Ryder Cup. “The president told reporters he hopes there will be other sets of charges brought against his various political adversaries because they are “corrupt” and “radical left Democrats.”
He went a step further by describing the Republican Comey as “worse than a Democrat” and accused him and others as having “weaponized the Justice Department like nobody in history.” Trump then continued, “They did it with me for four years. They went after me. They went after me for four years. And that doesn't include the four great years that we had in the White House,” Trump said. Trump reveals why he’s weaponizing DOJ to target enemies like Comey as he heads to Ryder Cup in NY
Republicans themselves are concerned with Trump’s actions.
- Some like, Rand Paul (R-KY), has commented that politics “should be kept out of the judicial system as much as we can.” Paul’s comments came after Trump’s tweet on Truth Social directly to Pam Bondi, “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice and indicted me (5 times) OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
- Other Republicans have lost their jobs after refusing to indict Trump’s opponents. Eric Siebert, US attorney for the Eastern District of VA, declined to charge Letitia James with any wrongdoing. Trump claims he fired Siebert for that reason while Siebert states that he quit rather than succumb to Trump’s pressure. Republicans walk tightrope in defending Trump, condemning weaponization of DOJ - POLITICO
A few days ago, Senator Durbin (D – IL), the Minority Whip, compared how Democrats and Republicans came together in support of the rule of law to force then President Richard Nixon to resign to what is happening today. Durbin stated, “Where is that same courage today?.” Senator Durbin looks for a Republican to join resistance to weaponized government under Trump compared to Nixon | Watch
Many of us are asking that very same question. Who will come forward to protect our democracy instead of trying to protect Donald Trump?
Further articles of interest
Timeline: Politicization and Weaponization of Justice Department in Second Trump Administration
CNN Panel Erupts As Conservative Host Tells Them Their Side Weaponized Justice System
How Americans Rate ICE, FBI, Justice Department and Other Federal Agencies | Pew Research Center
After Years of Abuses, Approval of the FBI and DOJ Depends on Who Is in Power
Author: Rosemary C.