Trump orders Justice Department probe into Democrats over alleged extortion threats

The order

On 7 November 2026, Donald Trump used a post on Truth Social to direct the Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation into what he called extortion by Democratic leaders. He told the department to investigate immediately. The order follows the midterm elections on Tuesday, 3 November, by four days. The conduct he targets is the threats Democrats have made against political rivals while using the majority they won in those elections. The post did not identify which cases the order covers, and it was not yet known whether the department had begun any formal proceeding in response.

What Trump alleges

Trump accused Democrats of threatening many people, including the attorney general, with impeachment and other punishments while admitting they have no reason to do so. He argued that the people targeted have committed no act that would justify removal, and have not even considered one. He described the effort as a weaponization of justice and a legal battle. He said Republican donors, whom he called some of the most respected people in the world, are being threatened with prison and other penalties simply for backing Republicans. He also said Democratic leaders have sent threatening letters to many people, all of them innocent. Trump singled out Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin, claiming she has said she will go after young people who share Republican values. He called the conduct extortion at the highest level and said those responsible should be held to account.

Shift after the midterms

Trump had kept a low profile for several days after the vote, with promises of cooperation with Democrats, before this attack. Democrats are set to take control of both chambers of Congress in January, which would allow them to open investigations into officials from that month. Investigations that have already been floated include the enrichment of the Trump family, corruption, migration policy and the Epstein case. The timeline below sets out the dates reported in the articles.

Impeachment push and open questions

Republican congressman Thomas Massie announced in the week of 2 November that he would again begin impeachment proceedings against the minister of War, Pete Hegseth, in the week of 9 November. Massie said this was only the beginning, and that once Democrats take over Congress next year, hearings and trials would follow. Trump's post named no specific cases and offered no evidence for its claims. No formal step by the Justice Department had been reported in the articles at the time they were published.