During a Sunday interview with ’60 Minutes,’ President Donald Trump addressed allegations that he had instructed the Department of Justice to target political opponents. The president specifically denied directing the DOJ to investigate former FBI Director James Comey, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Trump maintained that these individuals were not subject to presidential control over the Department of Justice.
In response to these claims, the Trump administration reaffirmed that former Attorney General Comey was not a ‘political appointee’ and that the Justice Department operates independently of executive directives. The White House emphasized that the department’s actions were based solely on legal and investigative merits, not political considerations. This came amid ongoing scrutiny over the Department of Justice’s handling of cases involving high-profile individuals during Trump’s presidency.
Legal experts and analysts have noted that the White House’s stance on the DOJ’s independence is a key point in ongoing discussions about executive power and the rule of law. The allegations and rebuttals continue to shape the broader political narrative surrounding the administration’s interactions with law enforcement agencies.