Trump’s Executive Power Grab—and His Choice of Matt Gaetz—Is Just the Latest Round in a 52-Year Battle

Matt Gaetz , Todd Blanche , Bill McGinley , Emil Bove , and D. John Sauer have all represented Trump in recent court cases, says Julian Zelizer .

Zelizer : Trump seems to want lawyers who may be more inclined to take an aggressive stance toward executive power.

He says Nixon tried to create separation between the president and the attorney general, along with Justice Department of Justice along with the Justice of Justice of the U.S. Zelizer says.

David Gergen : The unitary executive theory of the presidency has evolved.

Gergen says it's disturbing that Barr 's selection of Gaetz signals a clear danger.

He says Barr 's memo suggests that the president has absolute authority to control criminal investigations, such as the firing of FBI director James Comey and pardoning national security adviser Mike Flynn .

David Rothkopf : AGs who acted in both ways: curb and enabler.

He says AGs may be unrestrained with advice when it comes to the “core function” of the president if he decides, for instance, to prosecute perceived enemies.

The pendulum has swung radically to the side of the AG and DOJ not acting independently, but simply becoming the president’s facilitators, he says.