Trump Urges Justice Department to Prosecute Political Rivals

US President Donald Trump publicly called on the Justice Department on Saturday to take legal action against his political adversaries, marking the latest episode in a series of moves that critics argue have undermined the agency’s traditional independence.

In a social media post addressed to “Pam” — seemingly Attorney General Pam Bondi — Trump expressed frustration over the lack of legal proceedings against:

• California Senator Adam Schiff
• New York Attorney General Letitia James

Both Schiff and James are Democrats who have faced accusations from a close Trump ally, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, of falsifying documents on mortgage applications.

“We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility,” Trump wrote.

On Friday, Trump dismissed Erik Siebert, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who had been overseeing the investigation into Attorney General James.

• Siebert reportedly argued that insufficient evidence existed to charge James with mortgage fraud.
• He informed staff of his resignation via email, according to the New York Times and other media outlets.

Trump defended the firing: “I fired him, and there is a GREAT CASE, and many lawyers, and legal pundits, say so.”

Both officials have clashed with Trump over the years:

• Adam Schiff led investigations against Trump during his first term, including his first impeachment trial over allegations he pressured Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election.
• Trump was acquitted by the Senate both in 2020 and during his second impeachment trial in 2021, linked to the January 6 attack on Congress.
• Letitia James filed a major civil fraud lawsuit against Trump after he left office, alleging he and his company inflated wealth and manipulated property values to secure favourable loans and insurance.
  • A state court initially ordered Trump to pay $464 million, though a higher court later removed the financial penalty while upholding the underlying judgment. “They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!” Trump wrote.

Trump has also faced multiple legal convictions:

Investigations into alleged mishandling of classified material and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results were abandoned after Trump’s re-election last year.

Trump announced he would nominate White House aide Lindsey Halligan, who has been leading a review of the Smithsonian Institution’s content for “divisive or partisan narratives,” to fill Siebert’s position.

This sequence of actions highlights Trump’s continued assertion of influence over federal legal processes, targeting longstanding political rivals and ongoing legal disputes, while raising questions about the independence of the US Justice Department.