U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, who serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized the Trump Administration on the Senate floor for what he described as politicizing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to target President Trump’s perceived enemies. Durbin referenced historical parallels to President Nixon’s Watergate scandal, stating that both presidents sought to use federal power against their political adversaries.
“[President Nixon] He went through a period we know as [the] Watergate [scandal]. It was controversial. Some people broke into the Democratic National [Committee] headquarters. They were caught. They were prosecuted. When it was all over, we had the Watergate investigation, and ultimately President Nixon resigned. But before he resigned, he instructed his staff to give him background information on his enemies list, the people that he considered to be his political enemies,” Durbin began. “He resigned. And then Congress came together, Democrats and Republicans, and said we can never let this happen again. We can’t let a President put his finger on somebody, and say, ‘that is a political enemy, go prosecute them.’”
Durbin argued that under President Trump there has been a return to such practices: “Under President Trump, we’re back into the Nixon conversation about enemies list, except President Trump’s enemies list is longer than anything Richard Nixon ever dreamed of.”
He outlined events leading up to the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. According to Durbin, Erik Siebert—Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia—resigned after resisting pressure from President Trump to pursue charges without sufficient evidence against New York Attorney General Letitia James and Comey.
“On September 20, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Erik Siebert, announced his resignation… Mr. Siebert resisted President Trump’s demands to bring charges without sufficient evidence against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey. Mr. Siebert, a Republican appointed by Donald Trump, stayed true to his oath to the Constitution and his commitment to follow the facts and the law. For that, he was forced to resign,” Durbin continued.
Durbin further stated: “In his place, President Trump installed his personal attorney, an attorney with no experience as a prosecutor, to indict James Comey in a politically motivated case, considered by career prosecutors in that office too weak to bring charges. This indictment represents the latest step in President Trump’s long crusade to weaponize the federal government against his perceived political enemies – a return to the days of Richard Nixon,” Durbin said. “He has installed loyalists whose chief qualification is their allegiance to him, not their fidelity to the law or the Constitution.”
The Senator also condemned what he called open attempts by President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi at targeting rivals: “Never in the history of our country has a president so brazenly demanded the baseless prosecution of his rivals. And he doesn’t even try to hide it. He glories in this constitutional outrage. In a social media post, President Trump issued a command to Attorney General Bondi saying ‘They impeached me twice… JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED NOW!!! We can’t delay any longer,’” Durbin said.
“Imagine that! A sitting president commanding his attorney general to prosecute state and federal officials who simply tried to uphold the rule of law… Since Watergate Republican and Democratic presidents alike respected independence of Justice Department… Under President Trump those constitutional guardrails have been destroyed,” Durbin added.
Durbin warned about broader risks if such actions continue unchecked: “What you’re seeing from the Trump White House is not normal… If the President can turn DOJ and FBI into his own personal police force… The President sent active-duty forces into Los Angeles earlier this year… He threatened… Chicago… sending forces into Memphis… ordered military into Portland with authorization for ‘full force’,” said Durbin.
“It’s a slippery slope into authoritarianism…. So while today it’s Letitia James and James Comey who are targets tomorrow it could be our fellow citizens who dare criticize…” he continued.
Recently eight Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats led by Durbin requested answers from AG Bondi regarding ongoing politically charged DOJ investigations involving individuals seen as opponents by President Trump.
“That’s why I have opened an investigation calling for answers from Attorney General Bondi—including making available several Trump-installed loyalists for questioning…. The American people deserve know if chief law enforcement agency … adhering Constitution or pursuing revenge on behalf president,” said Durbin.
He concluded by urging bipartisan action: “During Watergate … Democrats Republicans … sounded alarm together defended rule law,” adding: “This is code-red alarm for rule law…. Unless we come together stop president’s abuses I fear administration will continue corrode our American democracy.”
“Is there one Republican Senator in this chamber who gives a damn?” concluded Durbin.
