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Posted on 11/13/2026 2:08:35 PM PST by Twotone
A University of Chicago student who exposed remarks by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., about deterring young conservatives from working in the administration of President Donald Trump told Campus Reform in an interview that her warning has only motivated students to stand up for their political beliefs.
Michael Bicksel, a second-year student and senior editor of The Chicago Thinker, has since filed a formal Senate ethics complaint against the Michigan Democrat for threatening political persecution against young Americans interested in serving in a Republican administration.
“The power imbalance here is really, really stark,” Bicksel told Campus Reform, describing the controversy as a David-versus-Goliath confrontation between conservative students at an overwhelmingly liberal university and a sitting U.S. senator.
“That was a threat to me and my friends,” he said.
During an Oct. 13 appearance at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, Slotkin discussed pursuing investigations into Trump administration officials while threatening young, conservative prospective employees.
“I want young people coming out of school to say, ‘Should I go work for the Trump administration? That sounds fun, I might get an opportunity,’” Slotkin said.
“I want them to be like, ‘Lord, that might be buying myself a ton of problems I don’t want, and so let me avoid participating in that.’ I want that deterrence message sent.”
Bicksel, whose reporting brought the remarks to national attention, said the warning has produced the opposite response among young conservatives who contacted him.
“I think it’s been more the fired up response,” Bicksel told Campus Reform.
He said conservative students at the University of Chicago and elsewhere have expressed greater determination to defend their beliefs and pursue careers in public service.
“From what she said, her plan seems to be going after young conservatives interested in serving their country,” Bicksel said.
On Oct. 21, Bicksel submitted a formal complaint to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, requesting an investigation into Slotkin’s remarks and consideration of disciplinary action.
In the complaint, Bicksel accused the Michigan Democrat of proposing to use the legal system to intimidate potential Trump administration employees.
“As a college student and a conservative, this was a shocking thing to hear,” he wrote.
The complaint cites Senate ethics standards addressing improper conduct. Bicksel emphasized that he is not calling for Slotkin to be censored.
Bicksel also launched a Change.org petition calling for a Senate ethics investigation, which he said had attracted more than 6,500 signatures at the time of the interview.
His opposition to Slotkin’s remarks is rooted in his own experience working in Congress. Bicksel previously served as a Senate page while in high school, an experience he said strengthened his respect for public service and the institution itself.
He recalled that senators from both parties encouraged young people to pursue careers in government regardless of their political beliefs.
“So then to hear a senator say the opposite of that and say that actually only applies if you’re on the left side of the aisle and not if you’re on the right, was really disappointing,” Bicksel said.
Bicksel has now extended an open invitation for Slotkin to return to the University of Chicago and explain her remarks directly to the conservative students who challenged them.
In a letter to the senator, Bicksel wrote, “I believe you deserve the opportunity to set the record straight.”
“If she’s willing, then absolutely we’ll have her back. It’s not hard to have an event and let her set the record straight,” Bicksel told Campus Reform.
As of publication, Sen. Slotkin has not responded to Bicksel’s letter.
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Slotkin is a dangerous creep.
She was with the CIA for so long she thinks that terrorizing political enemies that disagree with her is SOP.
Excellent post—the governor of Virginia has the same mentality.
Truman and Eisenhower warned Americans the CIA would come back and bite us.
Slotkin is my senator. Shee really is that dumb.
Anyone thinking the young people are only energized on the socialist side have not been paying attention.
In the Brave New World the democRATs would love to create, Michael Bicksel would receive several “visits” from Antifa. And that would only be the beginning.
Agreed.
bttt
One of the two horrible US Senators in my state.
I loathe her.
If God is protecting her then I am disappointed. Maybe there is a coming reason to keep believing he works everything we see as evil to be meant for good as for the Joseph in Genesis. Beyond my understanding.
That and a nazi POS. As are many CIA alumni having bought into the culture the Paperclip founders inculcated to that rotten-from-birth abomination.
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