Staff ReportsAn attorney helping to smooth President-elect Donald Trump’s transition at the Department of Justice has issued a bold message to staff members: embrace the Trump agenda or find the nearest exit. Mark Paoletta, previously the general counsel for the Office of Management and Budget during the last Trump administration, took to social media to remind those in the DOJ of their role, firmly asserting that any objections to the president’s lawful directives would not be tolerated.
Paoletta’s communication drove home the point that working against Trump’s initiatives, unlike the antics seen during the Biden administration—where laws and Supreme Court rulings appeared to be treated as mere suggestions—will not fly. He made it clear that DOJ employees who feel compelled to resist the president’s agenda should reconsider their career choices, pointing out that they were not similarly concerned when their colleagues enthusiastically participated in Biden’s questionable student loan schemes.
The warning extended beyond just advice; it hinted at real consequences for resistance. Paoletta stated that those engaging in so-called “resistance” to the policies of the duly elected president would be engaging in a dangerous game of undermining democracy itself. This strong stance serves as a clear message: if you’re not on board with the Trump train, it’s time to clean out your desk.
Unsurprisingly, reports indicate some DOJ employees are feeling the heat. Insiders have shared that the atmosphere is downright tense, with lawyers expressing existential dread over potential job security. While some seem to be losing their minds over the prospect of having a president who wants to implement his agenda, one has to wonder why they didn’t feel the same panic when their agency was weaponized against Americans involved in the January 6th Capitol events.
Trump transition team member delivers warning to DOJ ‘resistance’ employees https://t.co/JA8kzh2sog
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 12, 2024
As if adding fuel to the fire, Paoletta mentioned that the incoming administration is considering pardons for those swept up in politically motivated prosecutions stemming from January 6th, raising even more eyebrows among those at the DOJ. Meanwhile, dissenters have another option: if they really can’t stomach the thought of serving under President Trump, they could always put their names on a ballot instead of plotting from their desks.
Mike Davis, an attorney and potential candidate for Attorney General in the Trump administration, reinforced the notion that DOJ employees are there to serve the President, and if they think their opinions matter more than lawful directives, they are in the wrong line of work. Advocating for a government that operates under the rule of law, he pointed out the glaring hypocrisy of those who would obstruct justice while claiming to safeguard it. With the clock ticking down to Trump’s inauguration, it’s clear that the gloves are off and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
