Speaking at the Department of Justice on Friday, former President Donald Trump vowed to hold accountable those involved in investigations against him during his time out of office.
“Predecessors turned this Department of Justice into a Department of Injustice. But I stand here today to declare that those days are over and will never return,” said President Trump.
During the years he was out of office, the Department of Justice charged Trump twice—once for keeping classified documents at his Florida estate and again for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Both cases were dropped after Trump won the November election. The Department of Justice cited its policy not to charge a sitting president.
“Now, as the highest law enforcement official in our country, I will insist on full and complete accountability for the violations and abuses that have occurred,” Trump declared.
The new administration has fired prosecutors who investigated Trump during the previous administration and is reviewing the actions of thousands of FBI agents involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot investigation.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, leader of the Democratic Judiciary Committee, criticized Trump’s speech as “a shocking violation of the traditional boundaries between independent law enforcement and presidential political powers.”
Trump has long criticized the Department of Justice and the FBI, appointing his political allies to key positions in both agencies. FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi were present at the Friday event.
In her remarks, Bondi praised Trump as “the greatest president in our nation’s history” and vowed to continue fighting for him and the country.
Trump also promised “historic reforms” within the DOJ and FBI, stating that under his administration, these agencies would once again lead the fight against global crime. His speech included themes of border security and combating violent crime, touching on issues central to his campaign.
Regarding crime, Trump noted that murders, property crimes, and robberies had increased during President Biden’s administration.
“There is no higher mission for me as President of the United States than to end these murders and lawlessness and to make America safe again,” Trump concluded.
