The Trump administration has filed charges against former national security adviser John Bolton, accusing him of mishandling classified materials. Bolton surrendered to authorities on Friday, becoming the latest high-profile figure to face legal action as part of a broader retribution campaign by the president.
Bolton is the third person on Donald Trump’s long-established enemies list to be charged by the justice department in recent weeks, signalling an escalation of the retaliation he promised during his election campaign. The former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia James have also been targeted after Trump publicly pressured the justice department to pursue charges against his opponents.
Beyond prosecutions, Trump has revoked security clearances for a number of individuals, including a former president and other senior officials, and has withdrawn Secret Service protection from some. He has also directed his administration to investigate specific people he accuses of crimes, sometimes naming them in presidential memos.
Legal firms and universities have not been spared either. Trump has issued demands for free legal work and policy changes on campuses, using the power of his office to extract concessions. The latest charges against Bolton underscore the president’s willingness to use the justice system against those he perceives as enemies.
