Slotkin Seeks to Deter Young Conservatives with Trump Prosecutions
Sen. Elissa Slotkin proposes prosecuting Trump officials to discourage young conservatives from entering government.
2 min read
Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) has suggested that planned prosecutions of Trump administration officials could serve as a deterrent for young conservatives considering careers in government. During an appearance at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, Slotkin made these remarks during a live recording of Vox’s America, Actually! podcast with editorial director Astead Herndon. A clip of the exchange circulated on X, highlighting her concerns about the influence of Trump-era politics on younger generations.
Targeting Officials, Not Just the President
Slotkin emphasized the importance of examining what she called ‘signature cases’ and targeting not only the former president but also the officials who supported him. She stated, “I want young people coming out of school to say, should I go work for the Trump administration? Like that sounds fun. I might get an opportunity. I want them to be like, Lord, that might be buying myself a ton of problems that I don’t want, and so let me avoid participating in that. I want that deterrence message.”
Comparisons to European Post-Authoritarian Cleanups
In a September 30 speech to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Slotkin drew parallels between the proposed prosecutions and post-authoritarian cleanups in Europe, referring to the plan as the ‘Iron Broom.’ She argued that Democrats should pursue prosecutions of Trump officials if they regain control of Congress, stating that the goal is to have a list of ‘signature cases’ that go after some of the most obvious and harmful abuses of taxpayer dollars.
Named Targets and Legal Risks
Slotkin specifically named Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro as potential targets for accountability. She warned that misusing taxpayer money could result in a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. These comments come months after Slotkin herself was the subject of a Trump Justice Department investigation. Pirro’s office had sought to indict the senator and five other Democratic lawmakers over a 90-second video urging military members to refuse illegal orders, which Trump labeled ‘seditious’ and ‘punishable by death.’ A federal grand jury declined to return an indictment in February.
Source: Breitbart
