Sen. Elissa Slotkin urges prosecutions to deter graduates from Trump administration jobs
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin told a live audience at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics on Oct. 13 that Democrats should pursue “signature cases” against officials who enabled former President Donald Trump, hoping the threat of prosecution will make recent graduates think twice about taking jobs in his administration.
Slotkin framed the strategy as a “deterrence message,” saying she wants young people to ask themselves whether a government job could lead to “a ton of problems” they would rather avoid. She argued that targeting aides and advisers, not just the president, would help “Trump‑proof” the government.
“I want young people coming out of school to say, should I go work for the Trump administration? Like, that sounds fun, I might get an opportunity. I want them to be like, Lord, that might be buying myself a ton of problems that I don’t want, and so let me avoid participating in that. I want that deterrence message sent,” Slotkin said during the recording of Vox’s America Actually podcast.
The comments drew immediate backlash. Law professor Jonathan Turley posted on X that Slotkin had “said the quiet part out loud,” suggesting the senator was using intimidation to sway career choices. Scott Kupor, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, called the remarks “disappointing and unprofessional,” emphasizing that OPM seeks to recruit “the best and brightest early‑career prospects.”
Students in the audience echoed the concerns. Michael Bicksel, a University of Chicago student, said the senator’s remarks made conservative graduates feel they could face political persecution for merely considering a federal job. The episode quickly spread on social media, with the Chicago Thinker account sharing a clip that highlighted Slotkin’s call for prosecutions.
Slotkin’s stance aligns with a broader policy push she outlined earlier at a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace speech, where she referenced Poland’s “Iron Broom” campaign and called for a list of high‑profile corruption cases. She has also advocated for a “radical reform and ethics package,” including bans on corporate PACs and term limits for Supreme Court justices.
Critics argue that the approach weaponizes the justice system for political ends, while supporters contend it is a legitimate effort to hold officials accountable. The debate comes as the 2026 midterms loom and Democrats eye potential control of the House and Senate, which could shape the feasibility of such prosecutions.
Slotkin, who voted twice to impeach Trump, has not identified specific individuals for investigation beyond general references to “people who enabled him.” The next steps will likely depend on whether Democrats retake congressional majorities and how the Justice Department responds to the proposed “signature cases.”
