Former national security adviser John Bolton became the latest target of Donald Trump’s retribution campaign after the justice department filed charges against him on Thursday over mishandling classified materials. Bolton surrendered to authorities on Friday, marking the third high-profile figure to face prosecution in recent weeks.
The charges follow a pattern of retaliation that Trump promised on the campaign trail, with the former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia James also targeted after Trump publicly pressed the justice department to act against his opponents.
Beyond criminal charges, Trump has revoked security clearances for a host of people, including a former president and other senior officials, and has withdrawn Secret Service protection from some. He has also taken aim at entire law firms and universities, issuing rightwing demands and extracting free legal work or policy changes on campuses.
The president has repeatedly claimed that specific individuals have committed crimes and directed his administration to investigate them, sometimes naming them in presidential memos. The escalation of these actions suggests a widening of his campaign against perceived enemies.
