A network of lawyers, accountants, employment experts, and other professionals is being formed to defend and protect individuals who may be targeted for retribution once President-elect Donald Trump takes office. According to multiple sources involved in the initiative, the goal is to provide comprehensive support for those who could face criminal or civil investigations under a new Trump administration.
The initiative, which aims to go beyond legal assistance, is recruiting a range of experts to help people potentially subjected to government scrutiny. This includes accountants for those under tax audits, employment professionals for those who may face job-related retaliation, public relations experts to manage reputational damage, and psychologists to assist with the stress of being targeted. The services will be free, funded through donations to nonprofit organizations.
Norm Eisen, co-founder of the State Democracy Defenders Fund, a group offering pro bono legal services, emphasized the importance of this effort. “It’s necessary because we’re seeing threats of the improper use of government and investigative power like we haven’t seen in modern times in our country,” he said, highlighting the need for strong support for individuals who may be unfairly targeted.
The initiative is still in its early stages and is likely to take the form of a loose-knit network of new and existing nonprofit groups. The effort aims to offer legal and security assistance to current or former officials who believe they are facing retaliatory action from the incoming administration.
Trump, known for singling out political opponents, has made clear that he believes those who have wronged him should face consequences. He has repeatedly criticized judges, prosecutors, lawmakers, journalists, and other officials, and has suggested that they should be held accountable. With the power of a vast law enforcement apparatus at his disposal, Trump’s second term could potentially result in financial and legal ruin for those targeted, even if they are not convicted.
Trump’s recent comments, including a call for members of the House committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack to be jailed, further raised concerns. During a recent interview, Trump expressed that while he would not personally direct investigations into his political enemies, he believes those who have wronged him should face consequences.
Mark Zaid, a national security attorney involved in the initiative, noted that Trump’s history of retribution suggests that those targeted may face significant challenges. “We don’t know what to expect, but when it comes to retribution and retaliation, he seems to keep his promises,” Zaid said.
Some individuals, such as those mentioned by Trump or his allies as potential targets, have expressed differing opinions on preemptive pardons. While some reject the idea, others, like Rep. Bennie Thompson and former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, have indicated they would accept pardons if offered by President Biden.
Despite concerns about political retaliation, legal experts stress that any baseless investigations could face significant legal hurdles. Career FBI agents and Justice Department lawyers would risk violating policies and facing disciplinary action if they pursued investigations without valid grounds.
Rosa Brooks, a former Defense Department official and current Georgetown Law professor, believes that the network of legal allies could make it more difficult for a future Trump administration to launch politically motivated investigations. “These will not be easy targets, because there will be resources in place to ensure that they have really robust legal defenses against politically motivated prosecutions,” she said.
