Donald Trump's Retribution Campaign: A Slippery Slope for America's Enemies
The Trump administration has filed charges against several high-profile individuals, including former National Security Adviser John Bolton, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and FBI Director James Comey. This is not an isolated incident; in recent weeks, the administration has taken aim at numerous opponents, with some facing charges of mishandling classified materials, others having their security clearances revoked.
A former national security adviser to Trump in his first term, Bolton had his home raided by the FBI in August on suspicion of mishandling classified documents. His attorney claims the documents are "ordinary records" mostly decades old, which would contradict the charges against him. This is a stark reminder that Trump's enemies list is growing longer with each passing day.
Bolton is not the only high-profile target; former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and former Secretary of Defense James Mattis have also faced criticism from Trump. The US Attorney General, Pam Bondi, was pressured by Trump to bring charges against several opponents, including New York's Attorney General Letitia James. This has sparked a wave of accusations of politics trumping the rule of law.
Comey, who led the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, is facing false statement and obstruction charges after testifying before Congress. He denied committing any wrongdoing but pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Another target is Lisa Cook, a Governor at the Federal Reserve. Trump wants her fired for cause after removing two properties from her tax records as primary residences. A judge has halted his attempts.
Gen Mark Milley's security clearance was revoked in 2018 due to concerns over his statements on Russia and Ukraine. Now he faces an investigation under Trump's administration into whether he committed Hatch Act violations, which his attorneys say are "imaginary".
Trump also targeted former CIA director John Brennan who was investigated by the FBI for allegedly lying to Congress regarding the Russian election interference.
This retribution campaign is part of a wider pattern of hostility against Trump opponents. The government has been accused of targeting those with high security clearances, withdrawing their protection and even taking away their homes in some cases. It's time for America to stop allowing such tactics.
The Trump administration has filed charges against several high-profile individuals, including former National Security Adviser John Bolton, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and FBI Director James Comey. This is not an isolated incident; in recent weeks, the administration has taken aim at numerous opponents, with some facing charges of mishandling classified materials, others having their security clearances revoked.
A former national security adviser to Trump in his first term, Bolton had his home raided by the FBI in August on suspicion of mishandling classified documents. His attorney claims the documents are "ordinary records" mostly decades old, which would contradict the charges against him. This is a stark reminder that Trump's enemies list is growing longer with each passing day.
Bolton is not the only high-profile target; former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and former Secretary of Defense James Mattis have also faced criticism from Trump. The US Attorney General, Pam Bondi, was pressured by Trump to bring charges against several opponents, including New York's Attorney General Letitia James. This has sparked a wave of accusations of politics trumping the rule of law.
Comey, who led the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, is facing false statement and obstruction charges after testifying before Congress. He denied committing any wrongdoing but pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Another target is Lisa Cook, a Governor at the Federal Reserve. Trump wants her fired for cause after removing two properties from her tax records as primary residences. A judge has halted his attempts.
Gen Mark Milley's security clearance was revoked in 2018 due to concerns over his statements on Russia and Ukraine. Now he faces an investigation under Trump's administration into whether he committed Hatch Act violations, which his attorneys say are "imaginary".
Trump also targeted former CIA director John Brennan who was investigated by the FBI for allegedly lying to Congress regarding the Russian election interference.
This retribution campaign is part of a wider pattern of hostility against Trump opponents. The government has been accused of targeting those with high security clearances, withdrawing their protection and even taking away their homes in some cases. It's time for America to stop allowing such tactics.