Former DOJ official: Trump 'essentially instructed' FBI to go after political foes in NBC interview

Donald Trump talked about retribution in an interview with NB CS Kristen Welker .

He didn't say he was going to direct anyone to go after anyone.

But that doesn't mean he's not giving them directions, because he is including that interview pretty directly.

The idea that Trump would need to direct loyalists like Cash Patel and Pam Bondi to do something like that is laughable.

Preet Bharara is the former US attorney for the Southern District of New York who was fired by Trump back in 2017 .

Bharara : "I sincerely hope Trump decides not to go after his political enemies. I hope the loyalists that he wants to install in these top law enforcement jobs.

We should all hope that. I mean, that would be way better for the country. But it's also important to be realistic moments like this and to not put our heads in the sand here," he says.

Chuck Grassley : Incoming Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley called for FBI Director Christopher Wray to step aside.

Grassley: Wray should resign or make Trump fire him, I suppose.

He was a Trump appointee. He was appointed by the guy who's coming back into office and he shook his hand and he said, I want you to be my FBI director for 10 years . And you believe, and I think the record reflects that you haven't done anything untoward. You haven't laid out, laid down on the job. Why should you leave?.