ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl spoke to George Stephanopoulos on Friday’s episode of Good Morning America about what he called a “major escalation” in President Donald Trump’s crusade to punish his perceived enemies.
Karl was recently attacked by Trump while trying to ask him a question at the White House. Karl asked Trump about AG Pam Bondi’s threat to crack down on free speech, to which Trump replied, “She’d probably go after people like you! Because you treat me so unfairly! It’s hate! You have a lot of hate in your heart!”
“He’s now using the power of the federal government, making a new move against the New York Attorney General who prosecuted him, Letitia James,” Stephanopoulos noted to begin the segment.
“George, this is a major escalation of the president’s effort to get retribution against his political rivals. ABC News has learned that President Trump is expected to fire a top federal prosecutor for failing to file criminal charges against Letitia James, somebody who is obviously very high on the president’s enemies list,” Karl replied, adding:
The prosecutor is Erik Siebert. He is the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, arguably the most important U.S. Attorney’s office in the country, responsible for the bulk of counterterrorism and espionage cases. And his office has been investigating James for five months on allegations of mortgage fraud that have been brought by the administration. He found no evidence to go forward with the prosecution, declined to do so. And now we are told that he will be fired. ABC News has learned that the president intends to put somebody else in the U.S. Attorney’s office who will more aggressively prosecute the New York attorney general.
“And also the president now going to the Supreme Court with his effort to fire Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook,” Stephanopoulos added.
“Yeah, the Federal Reserve Board long considered independent. He has tried to fire Lisa Cook. Two separate federal courts have said he does not have the power to do that. Now he’s going to the Supreme Court. This will be a major test of presidential power,” Karl noted in response.
“And the president and his team are raising this issue of mortgage fraud, but of course several members of his own administration have also faced similar questions, no prosecution of them. John Karl, thanks very much,” Stephanopoulos concluded.
Karl later commented on X about the story, writing, “President Trump has made it perfectly clear — he would like to use the power of the federal government to silence his critics.”
Watch the clip above via ABC.
