Campaign

Trump pledges to direct ‘completely overhauled DOJ’ to probe DAs and AGs

Former President Donald Trump speaks in New York City on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, outside the New York Supreme Court room where the civil fraud trial is underway that imperils his real estate empire. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

Former President Trump pledged Sunday to direct the Department of Justice (DOJ), should he be elected president in 2024, to probe “radical” attorneys general (AG) and district attorneys (DA) and stressed his plan to “completely overhaul” the department. 

In a speech to supporters in Iowa, Trump said he would specifically target officials who are practicing “reverse” racism.

“To stop the Marxist prosecutors who release rapists and murderers while persecuting Republicans, conservatives and people of faith like you,” he said, “I will direct a completely overhauled DOJ to investigate every radical DA and AG in America for their illegal, racist-in-reverse, enforcement of the law.”

Trump also pledged to create a “Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” which he said will “shed some light on every dark and rotten corner of Washington, D.C., starting with crooked Joe Biden,” adding, “and now we could really do that because they’ve led the path, what they’re doing is so bad to this country.”

Trump has frequently threatened to investigate officials whom he claims are corrupt or whom he claims are targeting him for political purposes. He has also outlined plans to limit the bureaucratic guardrails and increase the president’s authority and power to direct independent agencies as he sees fit.

He has also said in the past that he would investigate President Biden if he returns to the White House. Trump is the leading 2024 presidential GOP candidate, but he faces more than 90 charges across four criminal indictments against him.