Bitter Tears

Peter Baker at The New York Times published a noteworthy article yesterday (link here) about how Donald Trump is disappointed he can't break the law and take the Justice Department back to the Richard Nixon days of vindictive prosecutions.

The piece opens by noting that one of "Trump’s biggest disappointments in office, by his own account, was discovering that he is not supposed to personally direct law enforcement decisions by the Justice Department and the F.B.I."

This is appalling for several reasons. First, that Trump was so ignorant about how the presidency works he had no clue about basic legal parameters and limitations. Second, that he expected he could use the Justice Department as his own personal enforcement office to harass and pursue anyone he wanted, presumably his perceived enemies. And third, that he has so little regard for the concept of impartial justice that such an idea even entered his diseased mind in the first place.

It seems Trump thought being President was like being an absolute monarch, that you could do whatever the hell you wanted with no limitations and no repercussions.

After the likes of J. Edgar Hoover and Richard Nixon used the FBI and the Justice Department to settle scores, spy on political enemies, smear political opponents and more, Congress wisely made both agencies largely autonomous of the White House. An administration can oversee and intervene on personnel matters, but otherwise it's required by law to keep hands off of any investigations or prosecutions.

Trump should have already known that before he ran for office. He certainly should have known it by the time he was sworn into office -- doesn't he have any respect for the oath he took to uphold the Constitution?

Every member of Congress who reads this article should be deeply troubled. Sadly, many Republicans will look away and pretend they didn't notice.