Elissa Slotkin calls backlash to threat of prosecution comments ‘manufactured outrage’

Senator Elissa Slotkin called criticism of her comments about deterring young people from working for the Trump administration “manufactured outrage”. She said her point was that people should refuse illegal activity and face accountability if they break the law, regardless of political affiliation.

At a University of Chicago event on 13 October, Slotkin spoke of pursuing “signature cases” against people who enabled Trump and sending a deterrent message to prospective government workers. Republican Senator Mike Lee condemned the remarks as a threat of legal retribution for public service; President Trump also criticised them. Slotkin linked the comments to her earlier call for military personnel to refuse illegal orders, and suggested some Republican backlash might be related to her gender.