Elissa Slotkin calls backlash to threat of prosecution comments 'manufactured outrage'

Sen.

Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., called the backlash against her comments that the threat of prosecution could deter young people from working for the Trump administration "manufactured outrage" during television interviews Monday.

During an Oct.

13 University of Chicago event, Slotkin drew criticism after a clip went viral showing her saying she wants to pursue "signature cases" against people who "enabled" President Donald Trump and push a "deterrence message" for young people.

"I want young people coming out of school to say, ‘Should I go work for the Trump administration? Like, that sounds fun, I might get an opportunity.’ I want them to be like, ‘Lord, that might be buying myself a ton of problems that I don’t want, and so let me avoid participating in that,’" she said.

"I want that deterrence message," Slotkin said.

While speaking with CNN's Jake Tapper on Monday, Slotkin responded to a comment from Sen.

Mike Lee, R-Utah, who wrote that it was "absolutely disgraceful" to "threaten young Americans for participating in politics and serving their country" with legal retribution.

MIKE DAVIS: SEN SLOTKIN REVEALS HER INSIDIOUS SCHEME TO TARGET YOUNG CONSERVATIVES "Yeah, well, look, that’s manufactured outrage," Slotkin responded.

"That’s his specialty.

I think the thing that I’ve heard from my own Republican colleagues and peers, including interns and folks who work around the Hill who come to our events, they’ll tell you, 'I was worried.

My parents were worried, you know.

It’s really messy.

I’m not sure what to get involved in.' Politics, in general, has become messy." "But, you know, when you’re being forced by this administration, for instance, to sign a contract that is given over to a company that Trump Jr. is on the board of, and you know that that’s a problem," she added.