These are the people Trump told the Justice Department to prosecute after Comey
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Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) (left) at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 17. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg. New York Attorney General Letitia James (right) during a press conference on May 21 at the Capitol in Albany, New York. Photo: Jim Franco/Albany Times Union via Getty Images
The Justice Department indicted former FBI director James Comey Thursday following a social media post from President Trump that demanded prosecution for more of the president's political foes.
Why it matters: Trump has shattered norms around the Justice Department by installing loyalists at the top and inserting himself into prosecutions at an agency that has historically operated with some independence from the president.
- In a Sept. 20 Truth Social post calling for Comey to be prosecuted, Trump also demanded Attorney General Pam Bondi take action against Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
- "We can't delay any longer, it's killing our reputation and credibility," Trump wrote. "They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!"
- The Department of Justice declined to comment, and the White House didn't respond to Axios' request for comment.
The latest: Trump said on Friday he doesn't have a list of who will be indicted next, "But I think there'll be others," he said.
- "I mean, they're corrupt," he said. "These were corrupt, radical left Democrats."
Catch up quick: Comey was indicted in Virginia federal court and charged with making false statements to Congress and obstructing its investigation of the Russia probe.
- "James 'Dirty Cop' Comey was a destroyer of lives," Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social. "He knew exactly what he was saying, and that it was a very serious and far reaching lie for which a very big price must be paid!"
- "We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn't either," Comey said on Instagram post following the indictment.
State of play: Trump has accused both Schiff and James of mortgage fraud — a political tool the administration has used to pursue perceived enemies.
- Read more about Trump's acrimony toward Schiff and James:
Adam Schiff
Zoom in: Schiff led the first impeachment inquiry into Trump and was a member of the House Select Committee that investigated the Jan. 6 riot.
- In July, Trump called Schiff a "scam artist" for owning homes in both Maryland and California. Schiff said this was a "baseless attempt" to smear him.
- Schiff's office didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
The latest: Schiff said Thursday on X that he's never seen such a "blatant abuse" of the Justice Department, after Comey's indictment.
- "The DOJ is now little more than an arm of the president's retribution campaign."
Letitia James
Driving the news: The New York attorney general in April accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the government after a federal agency referred her for potential criminal prosecution for alleged mortgage fraud.
- On Sept. 20, Trump said he fired a U.S. attorney in Virginia who didn't pursue the case against James because the nomination had "UNUSUALLY STRONG" Democratic support.
- James' office didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Context: James brought a civil case against Trump, and a federal judge in 2023 agreed Trump committed fraud by overstating his wealth. The roughly $465 million fine was eventually tossed out on appeal.
Go deeper: What to know about James Comey and his history with President Trump
Editor's note: This story has been updated with the Justice Department declining to comment and a comment from President Trump.
