Federal prosecutions and investigations of Trump critics and opponents since 2025: Comey, James, Bolton, Brennan, Schiff, Cook, Lucas and others (status as of Oct. 25, 2026) Synthesis Since Trump returned to office, the Justice Department and other agencies have indicted, investigated or moved against a series of his critics and political opponents. Outcomes so far are mixed: the first Comey and Letitia James indictments were dismissed over the prosecutor's appointment and grand juries twice declined to re-indict James, Comey was indicted again over a seashell post, John Bolton pleaded guilty to one count, and the Brennan, Schiff and other probes remain unresolved. Officials say these are ordinary law-enforcement cases, and some began before 2025; critics, courts and defendants have raised vindictive-prosecution and appointment-validity claims. Every defendant not convicted is presumed innocent. Comey and Letitia James: dismissed, re-indictment refused, appeal pending James Comey was indicted in September 2025 on false-statements and obstruction counts, and Letitia James was indicted days later on bank fraud and false-statement counts. On Nov. 24, 2025 Judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed both, ruling interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan was not validly appointed; the dismissals were without prejudice. Prosecutors then sought to re-indict James on mortgage-fraud charges, and grand juries in Norfolk and Alexandria, Va. declined in December 2025. Her lawyer Abbe Lowell called the refusal unprecedented; ABC reported that prosecutors who investigated her found evidence that appeared to undercut parts of the case. The Fourth Circuit heard DOJ's appeal of the dismissals on Sept. 15, 2026. Judges Henry Floyd and Albert Diaz pressed DOJ's lawyer on the appointment question (Diaz: "would have, could have, should have. That didn't happen"). No ruling had been reported as of the Sept. 16 coverage. Comey was indicted again on April 28, 2026 in the Eastern District of North Carolina on two counts of threatening the president over a May Instagram photo of seashells arranged as "86 47," which he deleted and said he did not realize some associate with violence. The indictment argues a reasonable recipient would read it as a threat. On July 28, 2026 Comey moved to dismiss for vindictive and selective prosecution and under the First Amendment, and sought grand jury transcripts; Bloomberg Law notes such claims are hard to win because courts presume good faith. Judge Louise Flanagan has said the pending motions are ripe for decision, but the coverage found reports no ruling. The trial, once set for October 2026, has been delayed: his arraignment was moved to January 2027 and no trial date is set. Bolton, Brennan and Schiff John Bolton was indicted in October 2025 on 18 counts over handling classified information, and pleaded guilty June 26, 2026 to one count of retaining national defense information. Under the plea he agreed to up to 60 months in prison and a $2.25 million fine; sentencing is set for Oct. 28, 2026 and the judge is not bound by the deal. The Bolton investigation was formally opened in 2022, under the Biden administration, according to Straight Arrow News, which makes it a harder fit for a retaliation-only reading than the Comey and James cases. A Washington grand jury investigation of former CIA Director John Brennan, over whether he made false statements to the House Judiciary Committee in 2023 about the 2017 Russia intelligence assessment, issued witness subpoenas in April 2026. The probe follows a referral from Rep. Jim Jordan; a Florida prosecutor left the case after doubting it was legally viable, and Trump ally Joseph diGenova was named special counselor. Brennan denies wrongdoing and calls it political. The mortgage-fraud probe of Sen. Adam Schiff, publicly urged by Trump in July 2025, had stalled by October 2025 because Maryland prosecutors reportedly lacked enough evidence; his lawyer Preet Bharara called it transparently vindictive. DOJ has not confirmed the probe, and I found no later reporting that it produced charges. Other targets (status last confirmed January 2026 unless noted) Fed Governor Lisa Cook: Trump tried to fire her in August 2025 over mortgage-fraud allegations she denies. On June 29, 2026 the Supreme Court denied the government's stay request 5-4 in Trump v. Cook, holding she was entitled to notice and an opportunity to be heard; it left open what counts as "cause." As of Jan. 14, 2026 Straight Arrow News listed further matters: a criminal probe of Fed Chair Jerome Powell over his testimony on Fed renovations, which Powell called political pressure; a Pentagon investigation and Defense Secretary Hegseth's censure of Sen. Mark Kelly over a video urging troops to refuse illegal orders, which Kelly is challenging in court; a reported federal probe of Sen. Elissa Slotkin over the same video; and a mortgage-fraud referral of Rep. Eric Swalwell by FHFA director Bill Pulte. None had resulted in charges in that reporting, and I did not find later status. CNN's running tracker lists dozens of individuals and institutions affected by administration actions, including former officials, impeachment witnesses, prosecutors, inspectors general and statistical and weather agencies, beyond criminal cases. Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas, a leader of Virginia's redistricting push, was indicted Oct. 22, 2026 on racketeering, drug and bribery counts, 12 days before the midterms. See the separate entry for the charges and the dispute over motive. Perspectives Official position — Attorney General Todd Blanche and the Justice Department These are ordinary law-enforcement cases built on evidence, some begun years ago. On the Lucas case Blanche said: "We don't do political paybacks." On the Comey seashell case, when he was acting attorney general in April, he said it is like other threat cases the department routinely brings. Defender — Targets and their lawyers (Comey, James, Brennan, Schiff, Cook, Lucas) The cases are retaliation for criticizing or opposing Trump. Comey's lawyers argue vindictive and selective prosecution and the First Amendment; James's lawyer Abbe Lowell says career prosecutors refused to bring a case they knew was weak; Schiff's lawyer Preet Bharara calls the probe transparently vindictive; Brennan calls his probe political; and Lucas says: "I will not be bullied." Critic — Fox News reporting on Virginia Democrats' reactions Democrats who called Trump's indictments legitimate now stress presumption of innocence for one of their own, which Fox presents as inconsistent; Rep. Suhas Subramanyam rejects that, saying DOJ and the FBI timed the Lucas arrest two weeks before the election for political reasons. Legal view — Courts and grand juries so far A federal judge dismissed the Comey and James indictments over Halligan's unlawful appointment; two grand juries refused to re-indict James; the Supreme Court said Trump's removal of Cook lacked required notice and a hearing. Courts have not yet ruled on any vindictive-prosecution claim in these cases, and Bolton pleaded guilty. Editorial read — The Author (site author) Taken together, the cases look like a campaign to use federal prosecutors against people Trump has named as enemies. The strongest evidence is the pattern: his public demands, hasty indictments, collapsed cases and refused grand juries. Each case still has to be judged on its own evidence, and some, like Bolton's, show conduct a defendant admitted. Research notes Status reflects reporting found through Oct. 25, 2026. Open items to re-check: Fourth Circuit ruling on the Comey/James dismissals (argued Sept. 15); Judge Flanagan's rulings on Comey's pending motions to dismiss in the seashell case (arraignment moved to January 2027, no trial date set); Bolton sentencing (Oct. 28); Brennan grand jury; later status of Schiff, Powell, Kelly, Slotkin and Swalwell matters (last confirmed Jan. 2026). Several Trump-critic targets also appear on trackers by CNN and American Oversight. Note The administration denies political motive (Attorney General Blanche on the Lucas case: "We don't do political paybacks"); targets and critics say the pattern shows retaliation. Some cases (Bolton, Lucas) reportedly began before Trump's second term, and no court has yet ruled on a vindictive-prosecution claim in these cases. Sources [1] Straight Arrow News — Trump's enemies list: Where the prosecutions and investigations stand (https://san.com/cc/trumps-enemies-list-where-the-prosecutions-and-investigations-stand/) · 2026-01-14 [2] CNN — Tracking Trump's retaliation (https://www.cnn.com/politics/retaliation-tracker-trump-vis) [3] ABC News — For 2nd time, grand jury refuses to indict New York AG Letitia James (https://abc7ny.com/post/2nd-time-grand-jury-refuses-indict-new-york-ag-letitia-james-sources/18276424/) · 2025-12-11 [4] IBTimes — Trump DOJ's bid to revive Comey and James cases runs into appointment questions at appeals court (https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/doj-appeal-revive-letitia-james-james-comey-cases-1820103) · 2026-09-16 [5] Associated Press via News and Sentinel — Ex-FBI Director Comey indicted again in a probe over an online post officials call a Trump threat (https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2026/04/ex-fbi-director-comey-indicted-again-in-a-probe-over-an-online-post-officials-call-a-trump-threat/) · 2026-04-28 [6] Bloomberg Law — Comey accuses DOJ of 'vindictive' prosecution in seashells case (https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/comey-accuses-doj-of-vindictive-prosecution-in-seashells-case) · 2026-07-29 [7] Associated Press via WTOP — Witnesses subpoenaed to testify before DC grand jury in John Brennan investigation (https://wtop.com/government/2026/04/witnesses-subpoenaed-to-testify-before-dc-grand-jury-in-john-brennan-investigation-ap-sources-say/) · 2026-04-20 [8] KOAA (Scripps News) — Former national security advisor John Bolton pleads guilty in classified documents case (https://www.koaa.com/us-news/crime/former-national-security-advisor-john-bolton-pleads-guilty-in-classified-documents-case) · 2026-06-26 [9] Mayer Brown — Supreme Court blocks president from firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook (Trump v. Cook) (https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/insights/publications/2026/06/supreme-court-blocks-president-from-firing-federal-reserve-governor-lisa-cook) · 2026-06-29 [10] NBC News via AOL — A criminal probe into Adam Schiff has stalled, sources say (https://www.aol.com/articles/adam-schiff-criminal-probe-stalled-201908768.html) · 2025-10-23 [11] Fox News — Virginia Dems cast doubt on prosecution of colleague after embracing criminal allegations against Trump (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/virginia-dems-cast-doubt-prosecution-colleague-embracing-criminal-allegations-trump) · 2026-10-24 [12] U.S. Department of Justice — Virginia State Senator Indicted for Leading Criminal Marijuana Distribution Enterprise (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/virginia-state-senator-indicted-leading-criminal-marijuana-distribution-enterprise) · 2026-10-22 [13] Raw Story — Judge punts James Comey trial to 2027 with 'true threat' challenge 'ripe for decision' (https://www.rawstory.com/james-comey-2677942816/) · 2026-09 Connections Same context — Election denial and interference efforts before the Nov. 2026 midterms: pardons, the Tina Peters case, Georgia's federal-intervention letters and National Guard troops near a DC ballot box Same pre-midterm period; the Lucas indictment landed 12 days before the election. Shared mechanism — Trump's lawsuits against news organizations since 2024: two settlements, a dismissal, a partial dismissal and several pending suits (2024-2026) Both involve the use of legal process against critics and press, with courts and grand juries often pushing back. Related — Trump's Truth Social threats to "hunt down" and jail critics and opponents Trump's public demands to prosecute named critics, which targets cite as evidence of motive. Related — Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas indicted in federal marijuana racketeering and bribery case 12 days before midterms (Oct. 22, 2026) The Lucas indictment is the latest case in this pattern and the one closest to the midterms.