Trump pushes justice department to prosecute his political opponents

September 21, 2025

President Donald Trump is publicly pressuring Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate his political opponents, including former FBI director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Senator Adam Schiff. Through social media posts, Trump expressed frustration that "nothing is being done" against these individuals whom he claims are "guilty as hell. " This has drawn criticism from Democrats, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warning that Trump is turning the Justice Department into "an instrument that goes after his enemies.

Who is affected

Former FBI director James Comey
New York Attorney General Letitia James
Democratic Senator Adam Schiff
Former federal prosecutor Erik Siebert
The Justice Department and its independence
American citizens relying on an impartial justice system
Trump's political opponents and critics

What action is being taken

Trump is publicly pressuring Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate his political opponents
Trump has nominated Lindsey Halligan as a replacement for Erik Siebert
Trump is revoking security clearances of officials who have opposed him, including James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg
Trump is firing prosecutors who worked on criminal investigations against him
Trump is taking actions against law firms whose attorneys were involved in investigations against him

Why it matters

This challenges the Justice Department's post-1970s tradition of independence from the president
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warns this approach represents "the path to a dictatorship"
It follows a pattern from Trump's first term when he fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing himself from a Russia investigation
The situation threatens the principle that law enforcement should operate "without fear or favor"
It appears to fulfill Trump's campaign promise to seek revenge against political enemies

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC