US President Donald Trump on Saturday urged the Justice Department to take legal action against his political opponents, California Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Trump criticized the lack of action over alleged mortgage fraud accusations raised by his ally, Bill Pulte.
Trump fired the federal prosecutor handling the probe into James after the attorney reportedly said there was insufficient evidence to charge her. He claimed the case against James is strong and praised lawyers who supported this view.
Trump appointed White House aide Lindsey Halligan, known for reviewing Smithsonian content, to fill the prosecutor’s position. He described Halligan as “tough, smart, and loyal.”
Schiff and James have previously clashed with Trump. Schiff led the House prosecution during Trump’s first impeachment trial. James brought a civil fraud case against Trump, claiming he manipulated property values for favorable loans. A court initially fined Trump $464 million, but a higher court removed the financial penalty while keeping the judgment.
Trump emphasized his grievances on social media, citing two impeachments, five indictments, and convictions, including hush money cases and defamation penalties. He demanded, “Justice must be served, now!” Critics warn that these actions risk undermining the traditional independence of the Justice Department.
