NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
9/9/24
6:37 PM
LESTER HOLT: And a topic that could come up in tomorrow night's debate, the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric from former President Trump about his perceived enemies. Here's Vaughn Hillyard.
VAUGHN HILLYARD: Tonight, as he prepares for his critical debate showdown, former President Trump vowing to totally reshape the Justice Department and target political opponents.
DONALD TRUMP: We will completely overhaul Kamala's corrupt Department of Injustice.
HILLYARD: He recently reposted doctored images of top Democrats, along with Anthony Fauci and Bill Gates in orange jumpsuits with the caption “How to actually ‘fix the system’”. And in Trump's new book, alleging Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will try to unlawfully influence the 2024 election writing “if he does anything illegal this time he will spend the rest of his life in prison”. Just this weekend, Trump promising possible retribution against 2024 election administrators writing "Lawyers, political operatives, donors, illegal voters and corrupt election officials, those involved in unscrupulous behavior will be sought out, caught and prosecuted at levels unfortunately, never seen before in our country." But illegal voting is rare, and tonight a Republican election official in Arizona told us he's worried.
STEPHEN RICHER: I'm concerned we will see, potentially, professionals who are more willing to bend general rules of prosecutorial ethics or legal standards, who will occupy these positions.
HILLYARD: This summer's consequential Supreme Court ruling also gave a president “absolute immunity” over anything he orders or says to his Attorney General. Though Trump's GOP supporters argue that DoJ and Democratic prosecutors are going after him to hurt his campaign.
TRUMP: My poll numbers, I believe, are higher now… because the public understands it's a hoax.
HILLYARD: The Harris campaign responding by saying that Trump will, quote: “use his unchecked powers to prosecute his enemies.” Lester.
HOLT: All right, Vaughn Hillyard. Thank you.