Extortion is defined as the use of force or threats to compel another person into providing money or property or using force or threats to compel a public official to perform or neglect an official act or duty. Over the past few weeks, we have seen Donald Trump use his executive orders, the Justice Department and a strategy of withholding funding to get law firms, universities and even the mayor of New York City to comply with his demands. He has issued executive orders against a number of law firms who defended his enemies or whose lawyers worked on cases that resulted in indictments against him.

Trump also had the DOJ drop federal charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams in return for him supporting Trump’s migrant deportation program. Fortunately, a federal judge derailed Trump’s plan by dropping the charges and prohibiting the DOJ from reinstating those charges in the future. Trump has also used the withholding of millions of dollars in grants and other support to universities if they did not comply with his policies on free speech and DEI. And, as Trump’s own son indicated, he will use his tariffs as a tool to pressure individual nations and industries to make concessions to him in return for removing or lowering tariffs. Some may call this “hardball politics,” but there is a legal term for it as well.

Rich DiPentima

Portsmouth