Former President Donald Trump has been increasing his attacks on George Soros, one of the leading financiers behind leftist organizations. He is now urging the Department of Justice (DoJ) to open a RICO/Shaw investigation into Soros. On September 12, Trump declared, “We’re going to look into Soros, because I think it’s a Rico case against him and other people.” If true, this would be another big step in the escalation of Trump’s use of prosecution against political opponents and left-wing organizations.
Trump’s obsession with Soros is simply part of a wider Trump administration strategy to unleash an ideological war on those they view as opponents. He has made Soros a perennial target, promising to use the federal justice system to bring him to heel. The former president has pressured the DoJ to pursue charges against Soros, who he argues represents a threat to conservative values and governance.
Soros supports many progressive causes through his Open Society Foundations. Consequently, he has often been the first and most often targeted by Trump’s politically motivated bullseye. The Open Society Foundations have consistently rejected allegations of wrongdoing, stating, “The Open Society Foundations unequivocally condemn terrorism and do not fund terrorism. Our activities are peaceful and lawful, and our grantees are expected to abide by human rights principles and comply with the law.”
Moreover, the organization emphasizes its commitment to democratic principles: “When power is abused to take away the rights of some people, it puts the rights of all people at risk. Our work in the United States is solely dedicated to strengthening democracy and upholding constitutional freedoms.”
Yet Trump’s aggressive stance is still dominating the narrative. Legal observers note that previous probes into Soros and his allies have not yielded sufficient evidence to substantiate criminal charges. This extends to prominent individuals like former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Trump got major blowback for firing a well respected US Attorney in Virginia. This special prosecutor had decided that there was no basis for prosecution of Comey or James.
Yes, that Comey—now it appears prosecutors are rethinking bringing charges against Comey, a bigwig with connections to Soros. Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide appointed by Trump, is reportedly involved in ongoing efforts to pursue legal action against Soros.
These actions reflect a much larger anti-democratic agenda. He is determined to weaponize the judicial system, using it as a political bludgeon against his enemies and opponents. Critics argue that such maneuvers serve to undermine the integrity of the justice system, labeling them as attempts “to silence speech the administration disagrees with and undermine the first amendment right to free speech.”