In a move that has sparked concerns about the erosion of the rule of law and the targeting of political opponents, President Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate two former officials who dared to defy him.

Miles Taylor and Chris Krebs, who served under Trump’s administration as the Director of National Intelligence and the Acting Director of the National Center for Cybersecurity, respectively, have become the latest targets of the president’s persecution of critics. Both men have been vocal about their concerns over Trump’s handling of national security issues and his disregard for established intelligence protocols.

Taylor, a former CIA officer, resigned in 2019 to express his outrage over Trump’s policies on Iran and North Korea. He has since become an outspoken critic of the president’s approach to foreign policy, calling it “reckless” and “unhinged.”

Krebs, a cybersecurity expert, was fired from his position as Acting Director of the National Center for Cybersecurity in 2020 after he warned about the severity of the threat posed by Russian interference in the 2020 presidential election. Trump had attempted to downplay the risk, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

The investigation into Taylor and Krebs is seen as a brazen attempt by Trump to silence his critics and intimidate those who dare to speak out against him. The move has sparked outrage among civil liberties groups, Democratic lawmakers, and even some Republicans who have expressed concerns about the president’s actions.

“This is a clear example of President Trump’s willingness to use the power of the DOJ to target his enemies and silence critics,” said Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the minority leader of the Senate. “We will not stand idly by while this kind of persecution continues.”

The investigation into Taylor and Krebs raises serious questions about the limits of presidential authority and the independence of the DOJ. If the agency is indeed being used to target critics of the president, it would be a betrayal of its founding principles and a threat to the very fabric of American democracy.

As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s actions will ultimately prove to be his downfall or if he will continue to ride out the storm. One thing is certain, however: the persecution of critics like Taylor and Krebs will not go unchallenged for long.