Bill O’Reilly issued a blunt warning to President Donald Trump on Monday, suggesting that a "recurring theme" of DOJ scrutiny against political adversaries could be perceived as "totalitarian" by the American people.
The comments, made during an interview on NewsNation’s "On Balance with Leland Vittert," come as FED Chairman Jerome Powell faces a criminal perjury investigation. Powell claimed on Sunday that the probe is "retaliation" for his refusal to comply with the President’s demands regarding interest rate policy.
"What is a big issue is the recurring theme that if the president of the United States doesn’t like you, the FBI is going to show up," O’Reilly said. He added that while individuals must be held to account for misleading the public, the pattern of using federal law enforcement against critics is "not what we do here."
Frustration At The DOJ
The investigation into Powell is just one piece of a broader struggle between the White House and the Justice Department. A Wall Street Journal report released Monday revealed that Trump is "privately frustrated" with Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Trump has reportedly expressed anger over the DOJ’s inability to keep high-profile cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James alive. These charges were recently dismissed by a judge who cited an "improper appointment" of the prosecutor.
To bypass what he views as "weakness," Trump has reportedly discussed appointing special counsels to move more aggressively against his opponents. Despite the private friction, the President publicly backed Bondi on Friday, calling her a "friend for many years" and stating that "tremendous progress" is being made against "radical left lunatics."
The Powell Renovation Scandal
The criminal investigation into Jerome Powell centers on allegations that he misled the Senate Banking Committee about the $2.5 billion renovation of the Federal Reserve’s headquarters. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna referred Powell to the DOJ in July, alleging he lied under oath about luxury features in the building.
Powell has denied any wrongdoing, stating in a video message that the criminal threat is a "pretext" to undermine the independence of the FED. He claims the investigation is actually a consequence of him setting interest rates based on economic evidence rather than "following the preferences of the president."
O’Reilly noted that while building costs may seem "dopey" to the average person, the perception of political weaponization is a much larger threat to the administration’s credibility. Bondi’s office maintains that the department is focused on investigating any "abuse of taxpayer dollars" and making America safe again.