Justice Department Activities and Criticisms
This week, the Justice Department (DOJ) was involved in several high-profile situations:
- Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell was reportedly under a DOJ investigation, which some linked to presidential pressure regarding interest rates.
- The White House sought to distance itself from this investigation.
- Federal prosecutors are investigating five Democratic lawmakers for a video urging troops to disregard illegal orders.
- DOJ prosecutors resigned amid pressure to investigate a victim's widow rather than a killing in Minneapolis.
- Reports indicated President Trump's dissatisfaction with Attorney General Pam Bondi for not aggressively pursuing his priorities and targets.
- Trump reportedly criticized U.S. attorneys during a White House event, expressing concerns about their pace in prosecuting favored targets.
Senator Thom Tillis's Stance on Fed Nominees
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) stated he would oppose any of the president's Federal Reserve nominees until the investigation into Chair Powell was resolved. Tillis, a member of the Banking Committee, indicated this stance would prevent nominees from advancing. He attributed the administration's actions to advisors giving "bad advice."
U.S. Relations and Greenland
President Trump reiterated that the United States requires Greenland and that its current status is "unacceptable." He also threatened tariffs against countries not aligning with the U.S. on the Greenland issue.
- European Union countries reportedly deployed troops and military personnel to Greenland to show support for Denmark.
- During a visit to Beijing, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to reduce tariffs on Chinese electric cars in exchange for increased Canadian agricultural imports, describing China as a "more predictable" trading partner than the U.S.
Alaska Senate Race and Democratic Senate Majority Path
Former Democratic Alaska Representative Mary Peltola launched a campaign for Senate against Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. This bid is considered by Democrats as part of a strategy to gain the net four seats needed for Senate control in the midterms. The strategy includes retaining current seats and winning competitive races in North Carolina, Maine, Ohio, and Alaska, which would require significant electoral gains.
Iran Intervention De-escalation
Early in the week, a U.S. intervention against Iran appeared possible amidst protests. Military options were reportedly prepared, and U.S. personnel were advised to leave a military base in Qatar. By mid-week, President Trump indicated that "killing in Iran is stopping" and there was "no plan for executions." This de-escalation followed advice from regional allies, including Saudi Arabia and Israel, who reportedly cautioned against intervention, suggesting the protests were insufficient to overturn the regime and U.S. action could destabilize the region. Senator Lindsey Graham had previously advocated for intervention.
Venezuela War Powers Resolution
Last week, five Republican senators joined Democrats to advance a resolution restricting the president's use of military force in Venezuela without congressional approval. Following a pressure campaign from Republican leadership and administration officials, Senators Josh Hawley and Todd Young, two of the five Republicans, reversed their support. Both senators stated they received assurances from the administration regarding no current troop presence in Venezuela and future consultation with Congress before any deployments.
TJ Sabula Incident at Ford Factory
During a presidential visit to a Ford F-150 factory in Michigan, line worker TJ Sabula shouted a derogatory phrase at President Trump. Trump responded with a derogatory statement and a middle finger. Sabula was subsequently suspended. Multiple crowdfunding efforts initiated on Sabula's behalf have collectively raised over $800,000.