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President Trump's attempts to influence the Justice Department to prosecute his political opponents face several systemic checks. He's replaced U.S. attorneys who refused to file charges, but prosecutorial norms, grand juries, and judicial review offer potential obstacles. Prosecutors must meet evidentiary standards to indict, and grand juries have recently rejected indictments in similar cases. Judicial review allows challenges to politically motivated prosecutions, with Trump's public statements potentially undermining such cases. While these safeguards exist, the process itself can inflict significant damage even without conviction.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.