‘It’s been completely destructive to our lives’: Trump’s revenge probe forces ‘Anonymous’ op-ed author’s wife back to work as family faces ruin

Miles Taylor, the former Department of Homeland Security chief of staff who authored the controversial 2018 anonymous New York Times op-ed criticizing Donald Trump, is now facing severe personal and professional consequences following a presidential memorandum ordering an investigation into him.

According to Politico, in April, Trump issued an executive order calling for an investigation into Taylor, suggesting he had committed treason and revoking his security clearance. The order has been widely criticized as an abuse of executive power aimed at silencing Trump’s critics.

“It’s been completely destructive to our lives,” Taylor told Politico Magazine, explaining that his wife, a stay-at-home mom with their baby, had to return to work to help pay for legal defense costs and maintain their house. Taylor himself had to step away from his work due to what he describes as “blacklisting in Washington.”

Legal challenges and broader implications for government critics

Taylor’s lawyers have filed formal complaints with the inspectors general at the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, requesting an investigation into whether Trump’s order violates existing laws or constitutional protections. Taylor views these requests as a test case to determine if independent government watchdogs maintain their autonomy under the current administration.

The presidential memo’s impact extends beyond Taylor himself. The order also revoked security clearances of people associated with him, including staff at the University of Pennsylvania, where he previously worked as a part-time lecturer. According to Taylor, a friend who was a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security was fired after the White House discovered a photo of him at Taylor’s wedding on Instagram.

Taylor warns that this precedent could have far-reaching consequences for anyone who criticizes the administration. He suggests that while he has access to substantial support and legal resources, future targets of similar orders might struggle to mount effective defenses.

The former DHS official, who revealed himself as the anonymous op-ed author in 2020, maintains that his original criticism of Trump has been validated by these recent actions. The 2018 op-ed described Trump as “amoral,” “unmoored,” and “anti-democratic.” Taylor argues that the current order demonstrates precisely the kind of retributive behavior he had warned about.