WASHINGTON, United States — President Donald Trump has directed the US Justice Department to investigate Democratic lawmakers who have threatened to impeach members of his administration.
Trump accused Democrats of attempting to intimidate government officials and Republican donors. He described their actions as criminal but provided no evidence to support the allegations.
The president issued the directive on Saturday, November 7, 2026, four days after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress.
His announcement came as Democratic leaders prepared to launch investigations into his administration when the new Congress convenes in January.
The Justice Department had not publicly confirmed opening an investigation in response to the directive.
Trump Accuses Democrats of Extortion
Trump announced the order in a lengthy post on Truth Social.
He accused Democratic politicians of threatening Attorney General Todd Blanche and other administration officials with impeachment and punishment.
“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,” Trump wrote.
The president insisted that the officials had committed no impeachable offences.
“This is extortion at the highest level, and they should be held accountable for this,” he said.
Trump also alleged that Democratic politicians had threatened Republican donors with imprisonment because of their political affiliations.
He claimed that letters containing threats had been sent to several people but did not identify the recipients or provide copies of the communications.
He subsequently issued a direct instruction to federal prosecutors.
“By copy of this statement, I am ordering the Department of Justice to look into this criminal act, immediately!” Trump wrote.
According to Reuters, the Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Democrats Prepare Investigations After Taking Congress
Trump’s announcement followed the Republican Party’s defeat in the midterm elections.
Democrats captured the House of Representatives and Senate, giving them control of Congress for the final two years of Trump’s presidency.
The new majority will have authority to chair congressional committees, summon witnesses, request government records, and investigate executive branch activities.
Democratic lawmakers have already identified several areas they intend to examine.
They include the Trump family’s business dealings, immigration enforcement, federal spending, and the administration’s handling of documents connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Representative Robert Garcia of California, who is expected to chair the House Oversight Committee, issued a brief warning after Democrats secured their majority.
“Lawyer up,” Garcia said in a statement published by the committee.
Garcia has promised investigations into alleged corporate corruption, the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the administration’s handling of the Epstein records.
Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who is expected to chair the House Judiciary Committee, has also called for scrutiny of the administration.
Congress has constitutional authority to investigate government activities and consider impeachment proceedings.
Trump’s allegations do not establish that the Democrats’ stated plans constitute criminal conduct.
Senator Elissa Slotkin Rejects Trump’s Accusations
Trump singled out Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan in his statement.
He accused her of threatening young Americans who might consider working for Republican administrations.
Slotkin had previously suggested that people considering employment in Trump’s administration should weigh the possibility of future investigations into unlawful government conduct.
Speaking at the University of Chicago in October, she said she wanted prospective employees to consider whether participating in the administration could expose them to legal or professional difficulties.
Republicans criticised the remarks, accusing her of attempting to intimidate young conservatives.
Slotkin rejected that interpretation.
In a statement issued by her Senate office, she said her comments concerned accountability for violations of the law and misuse of public money.
“This shouldn’t be controversial: if you break the law or use taxpayer dollars to enrich yourself, you should be held accountable. If you didn’t break the law, then it’s all good,” she said.
Slotkin also accused the president of threatening her with imprisonment because of her criticism of his administration.
She referred to an earlier attempt by federal prosecutors to indict her and other Democratic lawmakers over a video they released concerning unlawful military orders.
The lawmakers had urged military and intelligence personnel to refuse orders that violated the law.
A federal grand jury declined to indict them.
Slotkin said the latest threats would not prevent her from challenging the administration.
Republican Donors Face Questions Over White House Ballroom
Trump’s allegations also followed congressional scrutiny of private donations to a large ballroom project at the White House.
Democratic lawmakers have requested information from technology companies and wealthy individuals who contributed money towards the construction.
They have raised questions about whether the donations could create conflicts of interest involving businesses seeking favourable treatment from the federal government.
Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut wrote to 14 donors in October seeking details about their contributions.
The letters requested information about how the donations were solicited and whether government officials had discussed particular amounts with contributors.
The inquiries followed reporting by The Washington Post identifying major contributors to the project.
Trump has defended the fundraising arrangements.
In his latest statement, he accused Democrats of targeting donors because they supported Republican candidates and policies.
He did not identify specific evidence demonstrating that congressional requests for information amounted to extortion.
Attorney General Criticises Planned Investigations
Blanche had publicly criticised Democratic leaders before Trump’s announcement.
Appearing on Fox News on Friday, the attorney general questioned their decision to begin discussing investigations so soon after the election.
“It’s so disgusting to see them not even wait before the week is out,” Blanche said, according to The Washington Post.
The White House has also rejected Democratic accusations of misconduct.
Spokesperson Lauren Bis warned that congressional investigations could distract lawmakers from addressing the concerns of American voters.
“If Democrats choose to pursue sham investigations and radical left policies, they are choosing to work against the American people,” she said.
The administration has not publicly identified a specific federal criminal statute that Democrats violated through their announced investigations.
New Confrontation Over Congressional Oversight
The dispute comes as the White House prepares for a significant change in its relationship with Congress.
Republicans have controlled both chambers during the first two years of Trump’s second presidency.
That arrangement allowed the administration to advance much of its legislative programme with support from congressional leaders.
Democratic control will change the leadership of congressional committees and give opposition lawmakers greater authority to examine government decisions.
The House can also initiate impeachment proceedings against federal officials, including the president and Cabinet members.
Conviction and removal require a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
The Justice Department, meanwhile, remains responsible for investigating alleged violations of federal criminal law.
Trump’s instruction does not, by itself, establish that an investigation has begun or that any Democratic lawmaker has committed an offence.
No criminal charges arising from the president’s latest directive had been announced.
The confrontation follows the administration’s previous investigations involving political opponents and critics.
With Democrats preparing to assume control of Congress in January, the dispute over congressional oversight and the Justice Department’s role has become one of the first major conflicts following the midterm elections.
