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.
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.
It raises questions about the administration's priorities and the limits of executive power.
This highlights the blurring of lines between politics and law enforcement, which can have far-reaching consequences for democracy.
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? 
. 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 
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It's not just about upholding the law, it's about silencing opposition and intimidating people from speaking truth to power.
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.
! 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?
. 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.
. Anyway, I'm keeping a close eye on this situation... it's getting pretty intense 
. 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? 
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. And what about Lisa Cook and Gen Mark Milley? Their security clearances were revoked without any real evidence of wrongdoing.
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. Like, who does that? And now he's being charged with a crime over it? It just doesn't add up.
. 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.