What Would You Include In A Vindictive Project 2029?

Donald Trump acts as though he’ll always be president.

Trump has, for example, threatened to eliminate Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, assuming, presumably, that the Democrats will never again be in charge and able to retaliate. Which got me to thinking: What would you include in a truly vindictive Democratic Project 2029?

Thoughtful people have said that the Democrats should create their own Project 2029, which would include such noble ideas as strengthening the administrative state.

No one has ever accused me of being a thoughtful person.

But maybe I can be a truly vindictive one.

How would a vindictive Project 2029 fight back against the Trump administration?

If Trump can eliminate Harvard’s tax-exempt status, then a vindictive Project 2029 should propose eliminating the tax-exempt status of organizations that lean to the right. The Heritage Foundation, Hillsdale College, the Family Research Council, and the like would be good places to start. Let’s see how they do without tax exemptions. Load that idea into Project 2029. Fair is fair, right?

Or think about presidential pardons. Trump pardoned the January 6 criminals. He pardoned Charles Kushner, Jared’s father, and nominated the former felon to be the United States ambassador to France. So what would a vindictive Project 2029 say? It might propose, for example, to pardon all Democrats convicted of felonies. Then, after Bob Menendez, the former senator, receives a pardon — what’s a little political corruption among friends? — he should be appointed ambassador to France. That would be more fun than spending 11 years in the slam, ne pensez-vous pas?

It’s funny — even writing this column hurts. Thinking about all the evil stuff that the government could do is terribly uncomfortable. But Trump’s not just thinking about it; he’s doing it.  

Duty calls; I’ll persevere.

My evil Project 2029 will of course strip security details and security clearances from anyone who had the temerity to serve in the Trump administration. Vice President JD Vance; Secretary Pete Hegseth; Secretary Tulsi Gabbard; and all the rest — you’re on your own. Protect yourself on your own nickel, and don’t count on having access to government secrets in any new job you land.

How about FCC licenses? Trump threatens to rescind the licenses of media that he perceives to be left-leaning; Project 2029 would explicitly go after the licenses of those who lean to the right. Fox News is a cable channel, so it doesn’t have an FCC license, but many of its local affiliates do. Strip all the local Fox affiliates of their licenses. Same deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group. If you’re conservative, you’re off the air. Let’s put it right there in Project 2029 (which the Democratic candidates for president could all disavow while they’re campaigning but implement once one of them is in office).  

What about weaponizing the Department of Justice? The DOJ previously prosecuted Trump for the obviously political reason that he had … checks notes … committed crimes. Trump says he needs retribution for this. Trump says the DOJ should now prosecute, among others, Kamala Harris, Liz Cheney, and the members of the January 6 Committee. More recently, Trump said that the DOJ should prosecute Chris Krebs, the former head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Miles Taylor, another former government official.

When Democrats return to office, it’s time to return the favor — with a vengeance. If the statutes of limitations haven’t expired, restart the criminal prosecutions of Trump. Prosecute him for new stuff, too, like political corruption for which he wouldn’t have immunity. If the DOJ can dig up crimes that anyone else committed — perhaps using commercial messaging applications to transmit government secrets is illegal; if so, you’ve got a half-dozen possible defendants right there — go after ’em. No reason to be lenient on folks who served their country; it’s time to turn the screws on public servants as retribution for Project 2025.

Would ginning up a vindictive Project 2029 polarize the country? Sure.

Would it undermine democratic institutions? Sure.

Would the Republicans then propose a vindictive Project 2033, leading to an endless cycle of retribution? Sure.

Would any thinking person refuse to serve in government?

Frankly, we might have already reached that point.

Perhaps even discussing the possibility of a vindictive Project 2029 will cause politicians to stop the insanity.

Mark Herrmann spent 17 years as a partner at a leading international law firm and later oversaw litigation, compliance and employment matters at a large international company. He is the author of The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law and Drug and Device Product Liability Litigation Strategy (affiliate links). You can reach him by email at inhouse@abovethelaw.com.

The post What Would You Include In A Vindictive Project 2029? appeared first on Above the Law.