‘Guilty of treason!’: Trump targets ex-Homeland Security official for criticizing him

In an unusual and extreme step, President Donald Trump has called for a federal review of Miles Taylor, a former Chief of Staff at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), because Taylor criticized the president. The April 9, 2025, memo, “Addressing Risks Associated with an Egregious Leaker and Disseminator of Falsehoods,” orders DHS to look into Taylor’s time working for the government and possibly remove his security clearances.

This comes after Taylor wrote an anonymous 2018 opinion piece in the New York Times that strongly criticized the Trump administration, followed by his book, “Blowback,” which warned that Trump might misuse presidential power if he returned to office. The memo claims Taylor made up stories to sell his book. According to AP News, making the situation even more serious, President Trump publicly said Taylor might be “guilty of treason,” a crime that can carry the death penalty.

This highly unusual action has led Taylor and his lawyers to file a formal complaint with the Inspectors General of DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ), per Time. The complaint argues that the president’s order is unconstitutional because it targets a private citizen for speaking out, not for committing any actual crime. It also warns that this kind of order threatens free speech and sets a dangerous example for future presidents.

Trump attacking former official for critizism

The effects on Taylor have been harsh. The investigation and the bad publicity it has caused forced him to leave his job, creating major financial difficulties. He has set up a legal defense fund to help pay his growing legal bills. His family has faced harassment and doxxing, with their home address posted online. The situation has even affected people connected to him; a high-ranking DHS official was reportedly fired after pictures appeared showing him at Taylor’s wedding in 2019.

This is not the first time something like this has happened. President Trump’s actions against Taylor are similar to how he has treated other critics. On the same day he ordered the investigation into Taylor, he also called for a similar review of Chris Krebs, a former top cybersecurity official who publicly disagreed with Trump’s claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.

The complaint from Taylor’s legal team stresses the important role of Inspectors General, calling them the “immune system of American democracy.” These independent officials are responsible for investigating wrongdoing and stopping government power from being abused within federal agencies. The complaint asks them to look into whether DHS and DOJ are being used to punish people for speaking out and whether government workers are violating constitutional rights.

The legal arguments in Taylor’s complaint focus on possible violations of his First and Fifth Amendment rights. It says the president’s memo breaks Taylor’s First Amendment rights by going after him for criticizing the president, calling it a “textbook example of political revenge and unfair prosecution.” It also argues that the lack of clear accusations against Taylor violates his Fifth Amendment right to due process.

Taylor’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said filing the complaint with the Inspectors General is an effort to “get the administration to do the right thing.” He added that if this does not work, they will consider other options, including possible legal action.