'They should go to jail': Trump demands action against Democrats, orders DOJ probe

US President Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to immediately investigate Democratic lawmakers, accusing them of threatening senior administration officials, Republican donors and political supporters with impeachment, prosecution and imprisonment. Trump described the alleged actions as “extortion at the highest level” and called for those responsible to be held accountable.

In a lengthy statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed that Democratic leaders were threatening officials, including the US attorney general, with impeachment despite allegedly having no grounds to pursue such action. “The Democrats are going around threatening a lot of people, including the Attorney General of the United States, and others, with Impeachment and many other forms of punishment, even though they admit they have no reason to do so, and there have been no impeachable acts committed, or even thought of, by the victims of this illegal process,” Trump wrote. “This is extortion at the highest level, and they should be held accountable for this,” he added.

The US president also alleged that Republican donors were being targeted because of their political affiliations, claiming that prominent financial supporters faced threats of imprisonment and other penalties. “Also, they’re threatening our Donors, some of the most respected people anywhere in the World, with imprisonment, and many other levels of punishment, just because they happen to be Republicans, or Republican supporters. This is Weaponization and Lawfare at another level,” Trump said.

Trump separately singled out Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin, alleging that she was seeking action against young people who support Republican values. “The Senator from Michigan, Elissa Slotkin, is saying that she is going to go after all young people that believe in Republican Values, and that give even the slightest inclination to be a Republican,” he wrote.

Escalating his criticism, Trump alleged that Democratic political leaders had sent threatening letters to people he described as innocent. He subsequently issued a direct instruction to federal law enforcement. “Threatening letters have been sent to many people, all innocent, from Democrat Political Leaders. By copy of this statement, I am ordering the Department of Justice to look into this criminal act, immediately!” he declared.

In a second Truth Social post, Trump doubled down on his allegations against Democratic lawmakers, calling them “SLEAZEBAGS” and demanding that they face imprisonment. Trump wrote, "These SLEAZEBAGS should go to jail for what they are doing. The Senate must act, and stop being pushed around to the point of the Republican Party losing Elections, and worse!"

The order comes against the backdrop of a changed political landscape following the midterm elections, in which Democrats secured control of both chambers of Congress. The shift is expected to expand Democratic lawmakers' ability to conduct oversight hearings, issue subpoenas and investigate administration decisions.

The political confrontation also coincides with a leadership transition at the White House. On November 7, Trump announced that Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller would replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff from November 9, while Wiles would move to the Trump Political Operation.