Twitter Blows Up Over Trump Threat to DOJ: ‘Threatening the Rule of Law’

President Trump‘s threat to the DOJ in response to them not handing over documents set off a lot of concern on Twitter this morning:

This is a chilling reminder that the tradition of Justice Department independence is just that — a tradition. It's not enshrined in law. Trump has power, and he can use it. https://t.co/SYfZxKcID7

— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) May 2, 2018

You can't just tell the Justice department what to say. They're not doctors. https://t.co/LKLgg49sHM

— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) May 2, 2018

Threatening the rule of law right in front of us. This is not a drill. https://t.co/TPhd12Mk5U

— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) May 2, 2018

This reaction shows exactly why Rosenstein's comments yesterday were so notable: he wasn't just sending a message to Congress, but also to the president. https://t.co/7GQYmn0vm6

— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) May 2, 2018

oh hai, just a president threatening to politicize the DoJ or, more nefariously, fire his DAG. nothing much else here. https://t.co/yd2o6w9FPJ

— Sam Stein (@samstein) May 2, 2018

"I…worked on this obstruction case for a year…and…he just…he tweeted it out." –Robert Mueller, probably https://t.co/FaTqhgparC

— Jeremy Schulman (@jeremyschulman) May 2, 2018

If Democrats win the majority, they will use this tweet as they bury Trump executive agencies with document requests. https://t.co/oM3rgHJTrK

— Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) May 2, 2018

The "president" is blatantly threatening the rule of law & fast tracking America to banana republic status. https://t.co/m0F16iZo5V

— John Weaver (@JWGOP) May 2, 2018

In which the President of the United States appears to be threatening to politicize the DOJ (and presumably fire Rosenstein?). It's a completely abnormal thing we've all grown totally accustomed to at this point pic.twitter.com/ERvzvphSD0

— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) May 2, 2018

Now we know why he tweeted this — The Justice Department informed Meadows and Jordan *Monday* that it won't turn over the Rosenstein memo detailing the scope of the special counsel’s investigation because it pertains to an ongoing criminal investigation, per @LauraAJarrett. https://t.co/CUaXJhdEym

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 2, 2018

Department of Justice = The department of the U.S. federal government charged with the responsibility for the enforcement of federal laws.#Trump https://t.co/Wc0iWFIe1y https://t.co/80fdy9JXb4

— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) May 2, 2018

Trump is now for releasing classified information https://t.co/aA0XmHAtva

— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) May 2, 2018

Basically the President of the United States is calling for a breakdown in the separation of powers and the institutional norms preventing political influence over the DOJ because he thinks it will benefit him. https://t.co/lraMu8l4wo

— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) May 2, 2018

Even Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded to the President:

Mr. President, the powers of the Presidency do not give you the right to interfere with or shut down the Russia investigation. Firing the Deputy AG or Director Mueller would create a constitutional crisis. Do not go down this road. https://t.co/rqhxKFYYQC

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 2, 2018

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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