Trump’s Chilling Retribution Campaign Poses a Grave Threat to Democracy
At a political conference in Maryland two years ago, Trump told hundreds of his supporters that he would be a tool of vengeance should they return him to the White House.
“I am your retribution,” Trump said before repeating it again for emphasis.
Trump’s now returned to the White House, and he is fulfilling his promise.
From the Department of Justices to the most peripheral federal agencies, Trump and his political appointees are weaponizing the bureaucracy to go after hundreds of the president’s political opponents and public officials who attempt to hold him accountable.
To carry out this effort, Trump has obliterated the longstanding firewall protecting the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other agencies from being used for political ends.
The use by Trump of the massive resources of federal law enforcement against his political opponents threatens fair elections and aims to intimidate public officials out of using their positions to hold Trump accountable. As such, it represents perhaps his most chilling move yet to undermine democracy.
Here are some of the high-profile figures who have been targeted by the president’s burgeoning retaliation campaign.
Former President Barack Obama
Trump this week accused former President Barack Obama of committing treason, a crime punishable by death. Trump’s allegations were based on misleading claims Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard made against the former president and his intelligence officials.
Gabbard referred Obama and members of his administration to the DOJ for a criminal investigation, falsely alleging that they carried out a “treasonous conspiracy” against Trump by fabricating intelligence related to Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The DOJ quickly announced a “strike force” — a type of interagency team the department normally uses to investigate criminal fraud and corruption — to look into Gabbard’s false claims.
Former FBI Director James Comey
The FBI has said it is investigating James Comey, the bureau’s former director, for his role in initiating the investigation into Russian election interference.
The FBI’s investigation into Comey, who has long been one of Trump’s targets over the Russia probe, came after a referral from CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Gabbard also made dubious claims against Comey.
Comey was also targeted by the Trump administration after posting on social media a picture of seashells arranged to read “86 47,” a phrase commonly used in opposition to Trump. The Trump administration claimed the former director was calling for the president’s assassination and had Comey physically and digitally trailed even after he deleted the post and denounced political violence.
Former CIA Director John Brennan
The FBI is also investigating former CIA Director John Brennan. Ratcliffe claimed that Brennan made false statements to Congress about Russian election interference.
New York Attorney General Letitia James
In April, Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) who’s known as “Little Trump” in MAGA circles, referred New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) to the DOJ for potential criminal investigation, alleging that she engaged in mortgage fraud.
James is one of Trump’s foremost adversaries. Her office has challenged several of his policies over the years and in 2024 won a $450 million judgement by suing the Trump Organization for faulty business practices.
The DOJ opened an investigation into James in response to Pulte’s referral, and a grand jury has issued subpoenas over James’ mortgage applications. James has not been formally indicted or charged with a crime.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
Ed Martin, Trump’s first pick for interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., sought a grand jury investigation into Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for saying that Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch would “pay the price” for ruling against abortion rights.
Martin’s efforts were rebuffed by the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section (PIN), which, until recently, exercised oversight in cases against public officials and political candidates.
A proposal introduced by Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this year cut PIN out of the approval process, giving presidentially appointed U.S. attorneys more authority to pursue lawmaker prosecutions, according to the Washington Post
Sen. Adam Schiff
FHFA Director Pulte also referred Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) to the DOJ for a criminal investigation, accusing him, too, of mortgage fraud.
Schiff was the lead manager in Trump’s first impeachment trial and was a key member of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol and Trump’s role in motivating the attack.
Trump has declared Schiff guilty multiple times even though the DOJ has not opened an investigation and has not charged Schiff with a crime.
Rep. LaMonica McIver
Federal agents arrested Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) and several other elected officials in May after a confrontation broke out as the officials were attempting to conduct oversight at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark, New Jersey.
After the confrontation, Alina Habba, one of Trump’s former personal attorneys serving as interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, charged McIver with three counts of forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers, charges that carry a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison.
McIver, the first sitting member of Congress to be criminally prosecuted by the Trump administration, has pleaded not guilty and alleged the charges against her are politically motivated and meant to intimidate Congress from conducting oversight.
Sen. Alex Padilla
Federal agents forcibly handcuffed and detained Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) in June after he attempted to ask Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem questions about the Trump administration’s decision to deploy military troops to Los Angeles, during a press conference.
Moments before Padilla was detained, Noem said the Trump administration was operating in Los Angeles to “liberate” the city from the leadership of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy
Habba also opened an investigation into New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and other top state leaders in April over a directive to state law enforcement agencies to not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement operations.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
Pulte also called for a congressional probe into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, accusing the central banking chief of showing “political bias” and lying to lawmakers about the renovation of the Fed’s headquarters.
The FHFA director has used his relatively minor post to call on Powell to resign or be fired — even going so far as to draft a dismissal letter for Trump to give Powell, according to the New York Times.
Pulte’s claims against Powell have been in tandem with Trump’s increasing criticism of the chairman over his monetary decisions and concerns about tariff-induced inflation.
Former CISA Director Chris Krebs
In the clearest example yet of Trump personally directing the federal government to go after his perceived enemies, Trump issued an executive order in April ordering Bondi and other top officials to broadly investigate former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Chris Krebs.
Krebs defended the integrity of the 2020 election as Trump and his Republicans allies tried to overturn it. In his order, Trump called Krebs a “bad-faith actor” and, without providing evidence, accused him of weaponizing and abusing his position.
Former National Security Official Miles Taylor
In a separate order, Trump also directed the DOJ and other agencies to investigate Miles Taylor, one of his former senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials. Miles anonymously wrote a New York Times op-ed and later a book detailing the chaos inside the White House during Trump’s first term.
In response to the order, Miles filed a complaint urging inspectors general at the DOJ and DHS to investigate Trump’s retaliation against him.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
During the confrontation at the ICE facility in May, federal agents also arrested Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D). In addition to charging McIver, Habba also charged Baraka with trespassing.
Habba eventually dropped the charge against Baraka. However, a federal judge heavily rebuked officials from her office for bringing it to begin with.
“Your role is not to secure convictions at all costs, nor to satisfy public clamor, nor to advance political agendas,” the judge said.
Baraka is now suing Habba, accusing her of violating his rights by subjecting him to false arrest, malicious prosecution and defamation. He is seeking unspecified financial damages and attorney fees.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander
Federal agents arrested New York City Comptroller Brad Lander (D) in June while he was attempting to accompany a person out of a federal courtroom in June.
The DHS accused Lander of “assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.” Lander did not assault officers in video of the confrontation and was not charged with a crime despite DHS’s serious allegation.
At the time of his arrest, Lander was running in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary.
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan
Federal agents arrested Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan in April, alleging she “intentionally misdirected” federal agents away from a Mexican immigrant who was appearing in state court.
Dugan’s arrest was personally announced by FBI Director Kash Patel before an affidavit had been filed against the judge.
After Dugan was arrested, Bondi said the Trump administration was “sending a very strong message” to judges who, she said, “think they are beyond and above the law. They are not.”