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The Trump administration filed charges against James Comey on Thursday, an escalation of an ongoing retribution campaign aimed at Donald Trump’s enemies.
The charges against the former FBI director center on whether he lied and misled Congress during a testimony about the Russia investigation – a longtime gripe of Trump’s.
But Comey is not the first person to be targeted by Trump, who promised on the campaign trail that he would retaliate against his political enemies and has spent his first year in office doing just that, at times pressuring justice department officials to move faster to charge people he dislikes.
A host of people, including a former president and other high-ranking officials, have seen their security clearances revoked, and some have had secret service security details withdrawn. He has gone after entire law firms and universities, issuing rightwing demands and extracting free legal work or policy changes on campuses.
He has also targeted specific people, claiming they have committed crimes and directing his administration to investigate them. Some have been called out by name in presidential memos.
Here are the high-profile people Trump has aimed his retribution at so far.
Letitia James, the New York attorney general
Letitia James speaks in Valhalla, New York, on 8 May 2025. Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Trump is pressuring Pam Bondi, the attorney general, to indict James, saying she is one of several opponents who is “guilty as hell”. Federal prosecutors investigated James for potential mortgage fraud, stemming from claims by the leader of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, but concluded there wasn’t sufficient evidence to charge her, so Trump hired the prosecutor in charge of the investigation. The claims stem from James’ purchase of a second home. James previously led a civil case against Trump’s companies for financial fraud, which resulted in a large financial penalty, though that penalty was later thrown out.
Lisa Cook, Federal Reserve governor
Lisa Cook speaks in Washington DC on 6 October 2022. Photograph: Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Cook is a governor of the Federal Reserve who has drawn Trump’s ire because he wants the Fed to lower interest rates, and her removal would give his appointees a majority on the body. Cook faces similar allegations to James over mortgage fraud, with authorities claiming she designated two properties as primary residences. Cook has produced documents negating the claims. Trump is now trying to fire her for cause in only way that’s legal, by asking the supreme court to weigh in. Cook has fought against the removal.
Gen Mark Milley
Mark Milley attends a House hearing on 19 March 2024. Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Milley, a former chairman to the joint chiefs of staff, received a preemptive pardon from Joe Biden before he left office, based on the belief Trump would target him. Trump has revoked Milley’s security clearance and withdrawn his security detail. His portrait was removed from the Pentagon. Pete Hegseth directed the Pentagon’s inspector general to investigate Milley.
John Bolton
John Bolton speaks in Durham, North Carolina, on 17 February 2020. Photograph: Jonathan Drake/Reuters
Bolton, a former national security adviser to Trump in his first term, had his home raided in August by the FBI, which claims he had classified documents and is exploring potential criminal charges. Bolton’s attorney has said the documents are “ordinary records” that are mostly decades old. The Trump administration fought Bolton on documents in his first term ahead of a book Bolton released.
John Brennan
John Brennan testifies before a House committee on 23 May 2017. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
A former CIA director under Obama, Brennan has long been on Trump’s enemies list. He was investigated and directed to have his security clearance revoked in Trump’s first administration. He is being investigated over the CIA’s handling of the Russian election interference investigation, but it’s said to be stalled. Trump’s CIA director accused Brennan of lying to Congress and sought a criminal referral this summer.
Jack Smith and his team
Jack Smith speaks in Washington DC on 1 August 2023. Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP
Smith, a special counsel, led investigations into Trump over the January 6 insurrection and classified documents, putting him in Trump’s crosshairs. Now, Smith is being investigated for potential Hatch Act violations, which his attorneys call “imaginary”. Beyond Smith, Trump has fired prosecutors who worked on those investigations.
Adam Schiff
Adam Schiff speaks during a Senate judiciary committee hearing on oversight of the FBI on 16 September 2025. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Schiff, a senator and frequent Trump foe who led the House’s impeachment, was named in the social media post alongside James that called them “guilty as hell”. The allegations against him also stem from claims of mortgage fraud. Schiff has said he was transparent on his mortgage documents and the probe is political retaliation.
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