Trump calls Russia probe 'the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history'

President Trump.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

President Trump took to Twitter on Thursday morning to protest what he perceived to be unfair treatment following the Justice Department's appointment Wednesday evening of a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 election.

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People quickly pointed out counterexamples, including the Red Scare and the Army–McCarthy hearings as well as the time Tea Party activist Christine O'Donnell was literally accused of being a witch.

This is only the second time the Justice Department has moved to name a special counsel. The first time was in 1999 during the investigation into the federal raid that left 76 people dead in Waco, Texas.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.