The New York Times published a blistering editorial on Friday bemoaning that President Donald Trump has "eroded" America's justice system.
The editorial board described how the president "is once again weaponizing the legal system to fulfill his personal vendettas" in his most recent act of retribution, calling for the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James.
James previously sued Trump over a false business deal. This week, the Department of Justice came after James, indicting her on alleged bank fraud tied to a 2020 mortgage loan in Virginia.
"Mr. Trump has eroded this system from within," The editorial board writes. "His replacement of a career prosecutor with a crony is only one example. He has staffed the Justice Department and the F.B.I. with loyalists. His administration has pushed out lawyers who investigated misconduct and corruption. He has tried to punish law firms that represent his political opponents. He has repeatedly warned officials, sometimes in public social media posts, that they should not go against him. He has sent a message that federal law enforcement’s main concern should be not the country’s laws or the Constitution but his personal interests."
Before the James indictment, U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, Trump's own appointee, was forced to resign from the Eastern District of Virginia after Siebert declined to prosecute her. Then, Trump pressured Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint a new prosecutor, Trump ally Lindsey Halligan, an insurance lawyer and former beauty pageant contestant who has never prosecuted a case.
He also pressured Halligan to indict former FBI Director James Comey — another Trump foe. Comey was indicted on Sept. 25.
"America is now in a dangerous period, in which the president can order investigations and indictments against his enemies. Mr. Trump is criminalizing Americans’ ability to challenge their leaders," The board wrote.