Trump’s retribution campaign: who has the president targeted so far besides John Bolton?

US President Donald Trump's administration has escalated its retribution campaign, targeting a growing list of perceived enemies with charges and security clearance revocations.

Among those targeted so far are former US national security adviser John Bolton, who was charged with mishandling classified materials in October. The charges stem from Bolton's personal diaries, which contain unclassified records. Trump had already raided Bolton's home in August, alleging he had hidden classified documents.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is another prominent target. She was charged on October 9 with bank fraud and making false statements related to a mortgage on her second home in Virginia. The allegations claim she falsely claimed the property would be her primary residence. Trump pressured Pam Bondi, the US attorney general at the time, to indict James.

Former FBI Director James Comey is also facing charges, including making a false statement and obstructing a congressional investigation during a testimony in 2020. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on October 8. The indictment stems from Comey's role in investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Lisa Cook, a governor of the Federal Reserve, has seen her security clearance revoked by Trump after she wanted lower interest rates, which would give his appointees a majority on the board. Cook is being investigated over mortgage fraud claims, but authorities claim she designated two properties as primary residences. She's also fighting to be fired for cause.

Gen Mark Milley, a former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, had his security clearance revoked and portrait removed from the Pentagon after Trump deemed him a threat. Milley received a pre-emptive pardon before he left office but is still being investigated over claims of lying to Congress.

Former CIA Director John Brennan has also been targeted by Trump's retribution campaign. He was investigated and directed to have his security clearance revoked, allegedly for misleading Congress about the CIA's handling of Russian interference in 2016.

The list continues with other targets including Jack Smith and his team, who led investigations into Trump over the January 6 insurrection and classified documents.

The escalating retribution campaign by Trump's administration is a worrying trend. It appears that those who have dared to cross him or challenge his policies are being targeted with charges and security clearance revocations. This creates a chilling effect on public officials, undermining the rule of law and eroding trust in institutions.

The fact that former national security adviser John Bolton was charged with mishandling classified materials over personal diaries containing unclassified records is particularly concerning. It raises questions about the administration's priorities and the limits of executive power.

It's also striking to see how New York Attorney General Letitia James, who was allegedly pressured by Trump to indict her, is now facing charges herself. This highlights the blurring of lines between politics and law enforcement, which can have far-reaching consequences for democracy.

Ultimately, this retribution campaign seems to be an attempt to silence critics and opponents through a mix of intimidation and coercion. As the Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook aptly pointed out, this undermines the independence of regulatory agencies and the ability of experts to make informed decisions.

This is getting crazy! It seems like Trump's administration is trying to bully everyone who's been against him or didn't play by his rules. I mean, come on! Charging your own Attorney General for doing her job? And now they're targeting people who were just trying to do their jobs, like the governor of the Federal Reserve. It's like, what even is the point of having a security clearance if you can just revoke it at will? I'm worried about the precedent this sets and how it'll affect our democratic system as a whole...

I mean, I'm all for accountability, but this is getting pretty wild . Like, come on, John Bolton's got diaries that are just unclassified records? That sounds like a normal part of his job to me . And then there's Lisa Cook, who was basically asking for it with her whole "lower interest rates" thing . I get it, she wanted to give Trump's buddies a majority on the Fed, but revoking her security clearance is just excessive .

But at the same time...I don't think Letitia James and James Comey are above scrutiny either . Bank fraud and obstruction of justice charges aren't exactly trivial offenses, especially if they're proven. And as for Gen Milley, I mean, if Trump really thinks he's a threat, that's a pretty big red flag .

It's like, can we just have a serious conversation about what constitutes "enemies" here? Are these people really trying to hide classified info or are they just trying to do their jobs? I guess only time will tell.

I'm really worried about what's going on here... It seems like Trump's administration is using these charges to get back at people who spoke out against him or disagreed with his policies. John Bolton, Letitia James, James Comey - all of them have been targeted for no other reason than they were critical of Trump or wanted to protect the public interest. It's not just about upholding the law, it's about silencing opposition and intimidating people from speaking truth to power.

I'm also concerned about Lisa Cook's case - she was trying to do her job and advocate for lower interest rates, but got punished for it instead of being praised. And what's going on with Gen Mark Milley? He was already cleared by a pre-emptive pardon, but Trump is still investigating him for lying to Congress... this is just another example of how Trump is trying to control the narrative and manipulate the truth.

We need to make sure that our institutions are strong and independent, not beholden to some individual's whims. We can't let politics dictate justice - we need to stand up for what's right, even if it means going against the person in power

Trump's revenge tour is getting outta hand! Who's next?

Man, it's like they're trying to recreate the Red Scare vibes from back in McCarthy era ! Remember when everyone was labeled as a communist sympathizer just for having different opinions? This is some wild stuff, folks. I mean, John Bolton got raided at his home and now he's facing charges over his personal diaries... what's next, charging someone for having a dissenting opinion on Twitter?

And let's not forget about Lisa Cook, who lost her security clearance just for wanting lower interest rates . It's like they're trying to send a message that if you don't toe the line, you'll get stripped of your power and reputation.

I'm also worried about Gen Mark Milley being investigated over lying to Congress... it's like they're setting a precedent for anyone who dares to speak truth to power . And what's with all these charges against former officials? Is this some kind of vendetta against the people who served under Trump?

It's like we're living in a bad episode of The West Wing, where everyone's getting caught up in the drama and politics is taking over . Anyway, I'm keeping a close eye on this situation... it's getting pretty intense

This is getting crazy , Trump's all about revenge now it seems. I'm not surprised though, he's always been a bit of a hothead . The thing that really gets me is how the press is just eating this up like it's some kind of patriotic duty . Newsflash: it's not. They should be asking questions and holding people in power accountable, not just regurgitating whatever Trump says without fact-checking . And what's with the security clearance thing? Is that just another way for him to silence his enemies or something?

OMG u guys this is insane!!! Trump is literally trying to take down anyone he thinks is against him lolol what's next? is he gonna charge himself with treason? i mean seriously though what a abuse of power he's showing here, revoking security clearances and charging people left & right. it's like he's trying to silence everyone who disagrees with him.

I'm getting worried about this US President's behavior . It seems like he's using these charges as a way to retaliate against people who crossed him or disagreed with his policies. I mean, John Bolton was just trying to do his job and keep the country safe, but Trump is now accusing him of mishandling classified materials? And what about Letitia James? She's being charged with bank fraud over something that seems pretty minor compared to some of Trump's own dealings...

And can we talk about Lisa Cook for a second? A governor of the Federal Reserve getting her security clearance revoked just because she wanted lower interest rates? That's not how it works, right? It's like he's trying to silence dissenting voices and intimidate people from speaking out. And what's with all these investigations into people's personal lives? It feels like Trump is more interested in punishing his enemies than actually doing the work of the country .

idk about this whole thing ... Trump is just being super vindictive right now . I mean, what's next? Charging people for just having different opinions on monetary policy? Lisa Cook was just trying to do her job as a governor of the Fed! And now she's facing allegations of mortgage fraud over designated primary residences? Sounds like an easy way out for Trump to get back at his enemies . It's just a bunch of political retaliation and I'm worried it'll set a bad precedent for democracy .

I'm getting a bad feeling about this ... Trump's govt is basically using its power to silence anyone who disagrees with him. Like, what's next?

So, let me try to visualize it in a simple diagram:
```
+---------------+
| Trump's Goal |
+---------------+
|
|
v
+---------------+ +---------------+
| Enemies Silenced | | Economy Suffers |
+---------------+ +---------------+
| Targeted by | | Interest Rates |
| Retribution Camp. | | Keep Going Down |
+---------------+ +---------------+
```
It's like, what's the end game here? Is it just about keeping Trump in power or is there something more sinister going on? I don't know man...

But one thing's for sure, this isn't good for anyone but Trump. It's like, a toxic cycle of retribution and retaliation. We need to break the cycle before it's too late!

I'm really skeptical about all these charges against high-profile people . It seems like Trump is trying to silence anyone who opposes him or criticizes his policies. I mean, come on, John Bolton's personal diaries are unclassified records, so what's the big deal? And Letitia James is being targeted for her mortgage claims, but isn't that just a normal part of being in public office?

And then there's James Comey, who was already investigated and cleared by the FBI. Now he's facing charges for something he didn't even do? It smells like politics to me . And what about Lisa Cook and Gen Mark Milley? Their security clearances were revoked without any real evidence of wrongdoing.

I'm not buying it. These look like classic cases of revenge and retaliation against people who are pushing back against Trump's administration. I need to see some credible sources before I start believing all these conspiracy theories .

Trump's retribution campaign is getting outta hand - targeting former officials for old grudges is just weird

Man, this is getting crazy ! Trump thinks he can just go after anyone who doesn't toe the line? Newsflash, Donald: you can't just silence your critics with a slap on the wrist or a revoked security clearance. It's like, what's next? Are we gonna see some old-school Soviet-style show trials going down in America?

And let's not forget about the hypocrisy – Trump is still out there making deals and cashing in on his name while these people are being dragged through the mud. It's just plain wrong .

I'm also super worried about where this is headed. If we start revoking security clearances left and right, it's gonna be a nightmare for folks trying to do their jobs without fear of retribution. And what about due process? Is that just a distant memory now?

The one thing that's got me going is the sheer audacity of it all . I mean, come on, John Bolton gets charged with mishandling classified materials because he has personal diaries that contain unclassified records? Give me a break!

I'm getting super concerned about this whole thing... like, what's going on here? First off, it's John Bolton, a former national security adviser, being charged for nothing - his personal diaries are unclassified! And then there's Letitia James, the AG from New York, who's basically being bullied by Trump into an indictment. It's just not right!

And what about all these people getting their security clearance revoked? Like, what even is the point of that? Is it just to punish them for disagreeing with Trump? And then there's Gen Milley and John Brennan, who are just being targeted because they don't agree with him. It's like he thinks he can just dictate how everyone lives their lives... no way!

I'm all about free speech and due process, you know? I think we should be worried about Trump's actions here - it's not right to try to silence people or punish them for being vocal. We need to stand up for ourselves and our values as a society...

I don’t usually comment but it’s getting really weird when you think about it... all these high-profile people being targeted by Trump's administration and I just can’t help thinking that there must be some bigger picture here . I mean, John Bolton gets charged with mishandling classified materials over his personal diaries? That sounds like a pretty standard thing to get in trouble for . And what about the fact that Pam Bondi was pressured into indicting Letitia James because of her investigation into Trump’s business dealings? It smells like more than just some petty revenge to me .

I also don’t get why Lisa Cook, a governor of the Federal Reserve, had her security clearance revoked over mortgage fraud claims. I mean, isn’t that what investigators are for? To sort out these kinds of issues? It feels like Trump is just trying to silence his opponents rather than actually addressing any real wrongdoing.

And can we talk about how this whole thing just seems to be a never-ending cycle of retribution and vengeance? First it was Russia, then it was Ukraine... now it's just targeting anyone who dares to question or investigate him . I mean, what’s next? Is Trump going to start charging himself with crimes too?

omg this is getting crazy!! trump's retribution campaign is like a never-ending game of musical chairs... someone gets targeted and then it's like "oh no, what about [insert name here]?" i feel so bad for john bolton and james comey, they were just doing their jobs! and why are we still talking about this? can't we all just get along and move forward??

I mean come on, what is going on here? Is this some kinda game of revenge? First off, John Bolton's personal diaries getting used as "evidence" . Like, who does that? And now he's being charged with a crime over it? It just doesn't add up.

And then there's Letitia James, who's being bullied by Trump's people. She's not even doing anything wrong! Just trying to do her job and serve the people. But no, Trump's got it out for her too . And what about all the others? Lisa Cook, Gen Milley, John Brennan... they're all just getting targeted because they dared to speak up or disagree with Trump.

It's like he thinks he can just use his power to silence anyone who gets in his way . Newsflash, Donald: you can't just do that and expect people to roll over! There are consequences for your actions, not just for yourself but for the country . We need leaders who will fight for the truth and stand up against corruption, not ones who will use their power to intimidate and silence.