Where Tyranny Begins: The Justice Department, the FBI, and the War on Democracy

In this robust account, Rohde (In Deep), NBC News’ national security editor, details Donald Trump’s outmaneuvering of the rule of law during and after his presidency. Rohde contends that “Trump successfully used online denigration, the rampant spread of conspiracy theories, and threats of violence to discredit, divide, and intimidate FBI and DOJ officials.” His argument is buttressed by interviews with government insiders, many of whom requested anonymity out of fear of retribution. Throughout, Rohde makes plain that those investigating Trump, including special counsel Robert Mueller, underestimated him by assuming he would be constrained by post-Watergate norms. Instead, Trump undermined public confidence in the Justice Department’s ability to do its job impartially, enabled by Fox News and his attorney general Bill Barr, who undercut the Mueller probe by presenting a misleading exculpatory summary of its findings. Even after Biden appointee Merrick Garland was at the helm of the Justice Department, his staff made errors that stymied the inquiry into Trump’s role in the January 6 insurrection. Much of Rohde’s material is familiar, though he peppers his account with new findings, such as background on the FBI’s decision not to subpoena records that could have identified plotters behind January 6: “Five years of Trump’s attacks had reduced the bureau’s appetite for risk.” Readers will be troubled. (Aug.)