Escalating Aggressiveness in Trump's Response to Legal Issues
In a surprising turn of events, several individuals who have been involved in investigating former President Donald Trump are now themselves facing legal investigations. This trend, reminiscent of a legal retribution tour, has been ongoing for years and shows no signs of slowing down.
One of the key figures under investigation is Jack Smith, the special counsel who brought two criminal cases against Trump. Smith is currently under investigation by the Office of Special Counsel for alleged violations of the Hatch Act. The investigation centres around accusations that Smith’s inquiries were politically motivated, though these claims are disputed, and Smith's cases were brought well before the 2024 election with official assertions that no political bias influenced the prosecutions.
Another individual in the spotlight is New York Attorney General Letitia James. She previously brought civil fraud charges against Trump, winning a verdict worth hundreds of millions of dollars. However, the Department of Justice has now convened a grand jury investigation into James, focusing on possible deprivation of rights and involving subpoenas related to her civil lawsuit against Trump. James and her office characterize this DOJ inquiry as a politicized "weaponization" of prosecutorial power amid her ongoing legal battles with Trump.
The Department of Justice has also opened a grand jury investigation linked to the intelligence and allegations surrounding the Russiagate conspiracy, which relates to Trump in the run-up to the 2016 election. This inquiry was prompted by a criminal referral from the Director of National Intelligence, but the precise targets or charges have not been publicly detailed.
Sen. Adam Schiff of California is also being probed by the Justice Department for allegations of mortgage fraud, as reported by The Washington Post. The allegations against Schiff include "occupancy misrepresentation."
The Vindman brothers, who blew the whistle on Trump tying Ukraine aid to an investigation into the Bidens, are under investigation for their business activities.
Former CIA Director John Brennan is under FBI investigation for his role in early assessments of Russia's interference, while former FBI Director James Comey is being investigated for possible false statements to Congress.
Even figures like former Rep. Liz Cheney, co-chair of the January 6 committee, have not been spared, with Trump urging the FBI to investigate her.
The investigations against key figures from Trump's investigations may serve as a message to anyone who might investigate Trump in the future. It is important to note that these investigations do not always relate to the figures' actions in probing Trump.
As of August 2025, these ongoing official investigations or inquiries focus on Jack Smith (special counsel), Letitia James (NY Attorney General), and grand jury proceedings related to Russiagate intelligence—all connected to their past or present roles investigating Donald Trump.
Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this week ordered a grand jury probe into allegations that key Obama administration officials manipulated intelligence in the Russia probe.
While no additional current investigations against other key investigators of Trump have been explicitly reported, this trend of legal retribution continues to shape the political landscape.
- The ongoing investigation of Jack Smith, the special counsel, by the Office of Special Counsel for alleged Hatch Act violations adds another layer to the politics of war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation, given Smith's involvement in investigating former President Donald Trump.
- The Department of Justice's grand jury investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James, focusing on possible deprivation of rights and related to her civil lawsuit against Trump, raises questions about crime-and-justice and general news, particularly in the context of her past investigations against Trump.
- The ongoing grand jury investigation linked to the intelligence and allegations surrounding the Russiagate conspiracy, which involves key figures from Trump's investigation, highlights the complex interplay between politics, war-and-conflicts, and policy-and-legislation.
