Elissa Slotkin stated she wants to focus on people who enabled Donald Trump and create a deterrence message to discourage young people from working for a Trump administration.

Posted by The Dan Bongino Show, Oct 19, 2026Checked Nov 2, 2026

Polygraph verdictTrue

Sources: 5 support1 context
Said: 1 time·
Confidence: 90%

The Dan Bongino ShowOct 19, 2026

Multiple sources, including CNN, Reuters-syndicated and Detroit News coverage, and Slotkin's own office, confirm she said at an Oct. 13, 2026 University of Chicago event that she wanted to pursue 'signature cases' against people who 'enabled' Trump and wanted a 'deterrence message' to discourage young graduates from joining the Trump administration.

This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.

What was said

… the Democrat side, I don't know what other warning you need that the symbiote between Folex MAGA and the Democrat tyrants getting ready to destroy you, your family, your business, and your country. I don't know what other warning you need. Check this out: "I want to look at these signature cases and not just focus on the president, but on the people who enabled him. I want young people coming out of school to say, 'Should I go work for the Trump administration? Like, that sounds fun. I might get an opportunity.' I want them to be like, 'Lord, that might be buying myself a ton of problems that I don't want, and so let me avoid participating in that. I want that deterrence message.'" Folks, I strongly encourage you, it's a long thread, so, i for the sake of keeping the show on track, I didn't put the whole thing up, but Data Republicans Are Really Good Account on X just put it in the search feature. Ah, it comes right up. …

The Dan Bongino Show · Oct 19, 2026· from the transcriptPost →

What we found

Supports. CNN reports Slotkin said she wanted to look at 'signature' examples and target 'the people who enabled' the president, and that she wanted young people to be deterred from joining the Trump administration by the prospect of 'a ton of problems.'[2]

Supports. Reuters-syndicated Detroit News coverage quotes Slotkin saying 'I want that deterrence message' and describes her pursuing 'signature cases' against people who 'enabled' Trump.[3][4]

Supports. Fox Bangor reports Slotkin's remarks were made during an Oct. 13 University of Chicago event and that she wanted a 'deterrence message' for young people considering administration jobs.[5]

Supports. Slotkin's own senate.gov post confirms she said she wanted oversight to focus 'not just on the president, but on the people who enabled him' and hoped it would dissuade young people from joining the administration.[1]

Context. Slotkin, in TV interviews, called the backlash 'manufactured outrage,' and critics including Republicans and the OPM director condemned the remarks as political prosecution; these reactions do not change what she said.[5][6]

Sources

6 sources: 1 primary, 1 tier 2, 4 not rated

1ICYMI: “Republicans Manufactured a Faux Controversy About Elissa Slotkin” - Senator Elissa Slotkinslotkin.senate.gov · primary source · cited for: supports
2Democratic senator sparks controversy over comments on ... - CNNcnn.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
3Dem probes of Trump should deter grads from working for him, Slotkin saysrmb.reuters.com · not rated · cited for: supports
4Elissa Slotkin hopes Dem probes will deter grads from working for ...detroitnews.com · not rated · cited for: supports
5Elissa Slotkin calls backlash to threat of prosecution comments 'manufactured outrage'foxbangor.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
6Sen. Slotkin says she wants prosecutions to deter graduates ... - ABC 6abc6onyourside.com · not rated · cited for: context

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Said in 1 published post

The Dan Bongino Show · Oct 19, 2026Post →

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