Front Burner Trump's campaign of legal revenge
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Oct 21, 2025 
Benjamin Wittes, Editor-in-chief of Lawfare and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, dives into the legal strategies of the Trump administration against critics like James Comey and John Bolton. He discusses how the Russia probe fueled Trump's outrage and outlines various investigations targeting public figures. Wittes warns of a dangerous cycle of legal retribution and the implications for democratic norms. He also emphasizes the need for judicial oversight to counter politicized prosecutions while listing potential future targets.
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Why Trump Faced So Many Investigations
- Multiple investigations of Trump reflected both political motives and genuine legal concerns.
- Wittes argues Trump simply did a lot that legitimately warranted probing, even if some probes were trivial.
Russia Probe As The Origin Story
- The Russia investigation, though it produced no charges against Trump, became the root of his belief in a 'witch hunt.'
- Wittes sees Comey's firing and subsequent disclosures as the origin story of Trump's long fury.
Comey Indictment Brought By Handpicked Prosecutor
- Trump's handpicked U.S. attorney in Virginia brought a charge against Jim Comey that a predecessor refused to file.
- Wittes notes the Comey indictment lacks clear factual detail and follows Trump's repeated public calls for charges.