Inside Trump's DOJ: The pressure campaign to prosecute foes

In Trump's DOJ, prosecutors face pressure to prosecute foes as career officials navigate a contentious campaign to punish political opponents.

A high-level White House push has intensified the efforts of the Department of Justice to execute Donald Trump's vow to exact revenge against his perceived enemies. The intense pressure on U.S. attorneys' offices in Washington, D.C., and Virginia is described by colleagues as "an unwieldy" campaign that has left some prosecutors walking a fine line between loyalty to their boss and upholding the rule of law.

Sources familiar with internal dynamics reveal public scoldings and tense discussions between Trump-appointed officials and career prosecutors. The campaigns to pursue probes, particularly those involving high-profile targets of criticism from the former president, have sometimes pushed prosecutors to move ahead despite lacking sufficient evidence to charge crimes.

In Alexandria, Virginia, a group of prosecutors are said to be worried that their efforts will influence the upcoming November elections, where voters will decide whether to re-elect Democratic state lawmakers or other officials who have been under investigation.

The push by interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan has roiled her Eastern District office in Virginia. In an effort to bring charges against a Democratic state lawmaker under investigation since the Biden administration, she continues to pressure prosecutors at her office to move quickly to charge another case involving allegations of wrongdoing against the lawmakers' supporters. The career prosecutors are concerned that this may violate long-standing Justice Department protocols regarding election-related investigations.

The president's personal involvement in pushing for prosecutions and comments made by Attorney General Pam Bondi suggest a broader effort within the White House to use the Department of Justice to target perceived enemies, multiple people with knowledge of internal deliberations have told MSNBC.

One example is Jeanine Pirro's office in Washington, D.C., where top prosecutors like Jon Hooks were reportedly put under pressure to launch cases that are largely unfounded or specious, according to sources.

Another case is the handling by Kelly O. Hayes' office in Maryland, which has been facing intense pressure from Ed Martin to bring charges against Sen. Adam Schiff of California. The office has chosen a more reasonable approach and will continue to pursue a separate case involving John Bolton, but are bracing for being fired if they fail to comply with requests.

In Charlottesville's Western District, prosecutors are fearful of notifying Trump's appointed leader that there is insufficient evidence to charge former FBI Director Chris Wray's leadership team with destroying documents.

I'm getting super worried about the state of our justice system right now . It seems like the pressure from Trump's camp is really taking a toll on career prosecutors who just want to do their job without all the drama and politics. I mean, can't they just focus on seeking justice and upholding the law?

It's crazy that some of these prosecutors are being told to move forward with cases even when there isn't enough evidence, which is basically a recipe for disaster . And what's even more concerning is that this behavior could potentially influence elections and sway public opinion - it's not right, guys!

We need to have independent and impartial law enforcement, not ones who are being pushed around by the White House . It's time for us to stand up and demand better from our elected officials, especially when it comes to something as critical as the justice system

I'm hearing that the DOJ prosecutors in DC and VA are being super stressed out cuz Trump's been breathing down their necks to go after his enemies. Like, some of them are actually walking a thin line between doing what they think is right and going along w/ what Trump wants, even if it means stretching or fudging evidence

It's like, totally understandable that there would be tension b/w Trump-appointed officials and the career pros who just wanna do their jobs. But the thing that really has me worried is that this is starting to bleed into election season and affecting how prosecutors are handling investigations

I mean, we all know Trump likes to stir up drama, but it's getting real when you see career prosecutors being put in a tough spot cuz of his personal vendettas. It's like, what happens if they don't go along w/ his wishes? Do they get fired or demoted? The fact that Ed Martin is pushing Kelly O. Hayes' office to bring charges against Adam Schiff just shows how far this is all going

Wow! This is so intense. I mean, the idea that prosecutors are under pressure to pursue cases even if they don't have enough evidence to prove a crime is really concerning. It sounds like there's some pretty heavy pressure coming from Trump's camp to go after certain people, and it's putting a lot of stress on these prosecutors who are just trying to do their jobs.

the whole thing feels super sketchy lol... like we're living in a movie where the main villain is trying to strong-arm his way into justice it's crazy how much pressure these prosecutors are under, and I'm not surprised they're worried about the elections but what's even more concerning is that this whole thing smells of politics over principle. It's like the DOJ is being used as a tool to silence critics instead of uphold the law I hope career prosecutors stand up for themselves and don't cave under pressure, we need accountability in our institutions!

I'm getting this vibe from the whole thing... it's like something out of a bad episode of The West Wing . I mean, you gotta wonder how far back Trump's DOJ will go in pursuing his enemies, and at what cost to the actual rule of law? It sounds like they're playing some kinda high-stakes game where career prosecutors are caught in the middle, trying not to get sacked by their own boss or the White House . I'm also kinda worried about the impact on elections - if people start getting charged for doing their job or speaking out against Trump's crew, it could get really messy come November . I just hope these prosecutors are able to navigate this minefield without losing their heads or worse...

DOJ is playing politics , it's not about justice anymore

I'm low-key concerned about the state of the DOJ right now . This whole thing feels like a big ol' mess. Like, I get it, Trump wants revenge on his enemies and all that, but at what cost? These prosecutors are walking a fine line between doing their job and going along with Trump's agenda, which is not cool.

And let me tell you, this whole election interference thing has me shook . If the DOJ is using its power to influence elections like this, it's basically undermining the integrity of the system as a whole. I mean, what's next? Using the FBI to surveil politicians who are just trying to do their job?

It's all very suspicious and I'm not buying the whole "career officials" thing . If there's even a hint of favoritism going on, that's a big problem. And as for Trump's comments, let's be real, he's already proven himself to be pretty unpredictable .

I just hope someone in the DOJ is paying attention and pushing back against this mess before it gets out of control .

I'm worried about the DOJ's latest antics . It seems like they're more focused on "punishing" Trump's enemies than actually upholding the law. I get it, politics can be heated, but this is a big deal. Career prosecutors are being put in a tough spot between loyalty to their bosses and doing what's right. It's not healthy for our democracy when the line between loyalty and justice gets blurred .

And let's be real, this kind of behavior can lead to more problems than it solves. If prosecutors start pushing charges without enough evidence, that just creates more headaches down the line. Not to mention, it's got everyone on edge, especially in election season . I hope these DOJ officials are doing what they think is right, even if it means going against Trump's wishes .

We need to keep an eye on this situation and make sure our justice system isn't being hijacked by politics . It's not just about the individuals involved, but about the integrity of our institutions as a whole .

I'm low-key worried about this one . The whole thing feels like a big mess. I mean, shouldn't prosecutors be focusing on actual crimes and following the law, not just trying to appease their bosses? It's crazy how Trump's people are pushing them to move forward with cases that might not even be strong enough. And the fact that career officials are feeling pressure to either go along or get fired is just really concerning . I hope these prosecutors in Virginia can find a way to do their jobs without being bullied into doing something they know isn't right. It's all about upholding justice, you feel?

idk how this is even happening , like trump thinks he can just use the doj as a tool for revenge? it's getting super concerning, especially when you consider all the career pros at the doj who are just trying to do their jobs and uphold the law. i mean, isn't that what the justice department is supposed to be about? anyway, it's not like this is a new development or anything... has anyone else noticed how trump has been pushing for all these prosecutions since like forever now?

Ugh dont even get me started on this ! It sounds like the White House is putting a ton of pressure on the DOJ to go after people they don't like, and its making life super hard for career prosecutors who just wanna do their jobs right. I mean, can't we just have some common sense around here? Like, if there's not enough evidence to charge someone, then what's the point in even pursuing it? Its basically saying that people with power will be above the law and that's just not okay. We need more transparency and accountability in our government, not less. I'm worried about the impact this is gonna have on our democracy too - if we start letting politics trump all over the rule of law, were basically done for

The whole thing is just so messed up . I mean, a guy who lost the election is still trying to use his power to go after people he doesn't like? It's just not right . And those prosecutors are caught in the middle, feeling like they're being pushed around by their bosses. It's like, you can't just ignore the law and do what Trump wants . The fact that some of them are even considering it because of pressure from the White House is just depressing . And what really gets me is how this is affecting elections and democracy as a whole . It's like, we're supposed to be a country where everyone is treated equally under the law, not just people who have power or are friends with Trump . Anyway, it's all just so messed up .

The whole thing is just so messed up I mean, come on, who gets to decide what's a crime and what's not? It sounds like Trump's DOJ is more of an enforcement arm for his own ego rather than a fair and impartial institution. The fact that prosecutors are being pressured to bring charges without enough evidence is just outrageous . And it's not just the politics, it's the principle of the thing - if we start letting the president dictate what gets prosecuted and what doesn't, then we've got a problem on our hands. It's like the rule of law is just being thrown out the window.