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Cultivating obedience: Using the Justice Department to attack former officials consolidates power and deters dissent

  • Written by Joe Wright, Professor of Political Science, Penn State
imageMiles Taylor, center, a Homeland Security official during the first Trump administration, wrote an op-ed in September 2018 that criticized Trump.AP Photo/Alex Brandon

During President Donald Trump’s first three months in office, his administration has targeted dozens of former officials who criticized him or opposed his agenda.

In April 2025,...

Read more: Cultivating obedience: Using the Justice Department to attack former officials consolidates power...

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