Trump's Threats and Justice Department Norms

Donald Trump expressed his intention to fire Special Counsel Jack Smith if re-elected, indicating his belief that he could operate without accountability to the law. This undermines longstanding norms at the Department of Justice that were established after Watergate, which aimed to protect the investigation's integrity and the separation of powers. Trump's comments reveal a willingness to dismantle these norms, thereby risking the independence of the Justice Department and potentially obstructing ongoing federal prosecutions against him. Such actions could fundamentally alter the relationship between the presidency and the judicial system, creating a scenario where legal accountability becomes meaningless.