US DOJ and FBI Trump 'Retaliation Investigation' Emergency... "Preparing Lawyers"

NBC "Department of Justice and FBI Former and Current Officials Prepare for Indictments"
"Gates Nomination as Attorney General Marks the Beginning of Revenge"

As former and current senior officials of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) prepare for the return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House, they are reportedly contacting lawyers in anticipation of possible criminal charges, NBC News reported on the 17th (local time).

Following Trump’s victory, concerns have grown within the Department of Justice and the FBI about the possibility of being targeted by Trump loyalist politicians. This anxiety sharply increased after former Congressman Matt Gaetz was nominated as the candidate for Attorney General.

President-elect of the United States Donald Trump (left) and Attorney General nominee Matt Gates AFP Yonhap News

One former senior FBI official, who has begun contacting lawyers expecting to be indicted, said, "Everything we did was fair. But the world has changed." He added that he is preparing for a long and costly legal battle and potential congressional investigations after Trump’s inauguration in January.

A senior official from Trump’s first administration said that the nomination of Congressman Gaetz is Trump’s vow to retaliate against officials who investigated him. The official said, "Gaetz knows he owes everything to Trump, who can protect him through pardons," and "Trump is also confident that Gaetz will do as he commands." Gaetz was previously the subject of an FBI investigation in 2020 over allegations of sex trafficking involving minors.

Trump and his close aides have consistently claimed that all investigations against Trump during this year’s election were politically motivated, and that Department of Justice and FBI officials involved should be prosecuted. Steven Cheong, the spokesperson for Trump’s campaign and the nominee for White House Press Secretary, said before the election, "All cases against Trump are fraudulent, partisan, and unconstitutional witch hunts," adding, "Like all other Democratic scams, they should be dismissed outright."

Department of Justice and FBI officials are reportedly dismayed that many Americans still believe Trump’s claims that these agencies are "dens of corruption." They are also alarmed by the possibility of facing criminal charges themselves due to investigations into allegations of overturning the 2020 election.

However, if investigations continue long after Trump’s inauguration, these officials could be indicted on separate matters. NBC pointed out that if the Attorney General appoints a special counsel to investigate claims that the federal criminal investigation into Trump was illegal, the Department of Justice or FBI officials could be found to have violated federal laws unrelated to the Trump investigation, such as tax or drug laws.

In fact, during the 2016 election, Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Russia’s interference in the election known as the "Russia scandal," indicted several Trump associates on crimes unrelated to the allegations. Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign chairman, was convicted on charges of tax evasion and fraud.

John Durham, the special counsel who investigated the same case, examined the activities of the CIA and FBI for years but secured only one guilty plea. NBC reported, "However, many of those investigated by Durham spent thousands of dollars on legal fees," adding, "Now, new Department of Justice and FBI officials will also face enormous legal costs."

Experts say the purpose of Trump’s investigation into Department of Justice and FBI officials is simple: to intimidate those who seek to investigate him. Steven Gillers, a professor of ethics at New York University Law School, said, "Trump aims to neutralize sources of power that could obstruct him," and "The nomination of former Congressman Gaetz as Attorney General is just the beginning of efforts for revenge, not the end."