Trump allies expand political enemies probe despite pledges: "no politicization"
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U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions during a press conference at the White House. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images.
Months after FBI Director Kash Patel told lawmakers there would be "no politicization" and "no retributive actions" at the bureau, the FBI and other government agencies have launched investigations into multiple people the president has previously named as enemies.
The big picture: The Trump administration has expanded the scope of law enforcement since the president retook power earlier this year, and MAGA supporters, such as Patel, have approached their jobs in alignment with Trump's goals on rooting out government officials working within what he calls the "deep state."
Catch up quick: Prior to being confirmed as FBI director, Patel wrote a book in 2023 that included a "not exhaustive" list of "deep state" officials in the executive branch.
- Trump endorsed the book, saying that he will "use this blueprint to help us take back the White House and remove these Gangsters from all of Government!"
- Patel later told lawmakers during one of his senate confirmation hearings that calling the compilation of names an enemies list was "a total mischaracterization," according to the New York Times.
Here's who the administration has targeted so far:
Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton
John Bolton's home was raided on Friday as part of a national security probe involving classified documents.
- He was reportedly unaware of the FBI activity and was not detained or charged with any crimes.
Bolton has been a fierce critic of Trump since leaving the administration, writing in a memoir that "a mountain of facts demonstrates that Trump is unfit to be President."
- That memoir was temporarily delayed after Bolton failed to complete a pre-publication review for classified information, as required by his federal contract.
- A federal judge ultimately allowed the memoir to be published, but ruled that Bolton "likely published classified materials."
Former CIA Director John Brennan
The Justice Department launched an investigation into John Brennan earlier this year related to the Trump-Russia probe, alleging that Brennan made false statements to Congress.
- Multiple people on Patel's list were involved in the investigations into Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election, and he was the primary author of the "Nunes memo," alleging the FBI improperly surveilled a former Trump campaign adviser as part of the Russia probe.
- Brennan said he had "unresolved questions" about if U.S. officials had knowingly or unknowingly helped Russia interfere in America's elections prior to leaving office in 2017.
Brennan has also sparred on the internet with Trump, saying that it was "astounding how often" the president fails "to live up to minimum standards of decency, civility, & probity."
- The president also revoked Brennan's security clearance during his first term in office, a completely unprecedented move, and claimed the director was expressing "erratic conduct and behavior."
Former FBI Director James Comey
The U.S. Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security are investigating a post Comey made on Instagram that includes "8647." The "86" has been used as a slang term that can mean "to get rid of," or in more extreme interpretations, to kill, and Trump is the 47th president.
- Comey later said the post was a "political message," but that he "didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence."
Comey oversaw the FBI's probe into potential Russian interference in the 2016 election, and Trump eventually fired him days after the former director requested additional resources for the bureau's investigation.
Former Homeland Security staffer Miles Taylor
Trump issued a presidential memo targeting former Department of Homeland Security staffer Miles Taylor in April, alleging that Taylor had "stoked dissension" by publishing a book disclosing "sensitive information obtained through unauthorized methods."
- Taylor detailed his experience working at the DHS in a New York Times op-ed and also in a book published under the pen name "Anonymous."
What the White House is saying
Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, did not address accusations that the administration is targeting Trump's political enemies but instead accused former President Biden of political retribution in a statement to Axios.
- "Joe Biden is the one who weaponized his Administration to target political opponents – most famously, President Trump," Jackson said.
- She later added: "The American people are lucky Biden's shameful chapter of history is closed."
Biden did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Who has the administration targeted beyond the list?
Attorney General Pam Bondi has purged at least 35 Justice Department employees for their work related to the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol and Trump's handling of classified documents.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has faced calls from the Trump administration to be prosecuted for alleged mortgage fraud, which the senator called a "baseless attempt" to smear him.
- Schiff played a key role in the movement to impeach Trump during his first administration, and has insisted that there was evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 presidential election.
New York Attorney General Letitia James was referred for prosecution over alleged mortgage fraud in April, a referral James rejected as political retribution after her office brought a $464 million civil fraud case against Trump in 2024.
- The president successfully appealed that judgement Thursday, and will not have to pay the financial penalty.
- Trump stripped security clearances from James after returning from office.
Go deeper: Who are the "enemies within" Trump wants to prosecute or punish
