Friday, November 28, 2025

Trump's legal war against foes

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This is America

Stories of justice and action across America

Fri Nov 28 2025

President Donald Trump 's retribution campaign against longtime foes faced a setback this week as his administration continues to target rivals through the legal justice system.

Welcome back, This is America readers, I'm Phillip M. Bailey, chief political correspondent for USA TODAY.

In twin rulings, a judge ordered that charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James be dismissed because the prosecutor who secured the charges was unlawfully appointed.

It's a legal decision described as "embarrassing" by some political observers, but an appeal is almost certain as the Trump administration turns up the heat against its opponents.

The FBI is looking to interview six Democratic lawmakers who in a video urged military members to refuse "illegal orders," according to a source familiar with the requests. Among them is Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, who is being probed by the Pentagon for "serious allegations of misconduct," according to the war department.

Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy captain, is facing scrutiny under the Uniform Code of Military Justice , but legal and military experts say the 61-year-old former astronaut committed "no crime" in the video that would violate articles under the UCMJ, including the articles related to sedition.

Sen. Mark Kelly speaks during a roundtable on extreme heat at his Phoenix office on July 11, 2025.

Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

For more on what's happening with Trump's legal pursuit of rivals, check out USA TODAY's coverage:

•	Mark Kelly says he 'won't be intimidated' by Trump, Pentagon investigation: The Arizona senator called the threat "absurd" and that his message was "pretty simple and non-controversial."
•	Will Mark Kelly case reach courts? It's 'dead on arrival,' experts say.
•	Trump accuses six Democratic lawmakers of 'seditious behavior, punishable by death': The lawmakers did not specify what orders are illegal but the president unleashed a tirade on social media.

ChatGPT and suicide raises another AI ethical question

As artificial intelligence becomes a rising part of our economy and daily lives, there are serious ethical and legal questions about its use that U.S. families will have to tackle.

The case of Joshua Enneking, 26, who began confiding in ChatGPT about his struggles with depression and suicidal ideation. His family claims the technology "coached" him into planning his own death by giving him information on suicide methods.

Filed by Enneking's mother, the suit alleges OpenAI had a chance to contact authorities, but failed to abide by its own safety standards and gave him instructions that fed his depression.

Experts warn that AI's tendency to be agreeable and reaffirm a users' feelings and beliefs poses particular problems when it comes to suicidal ideation and Enneking's family told USA TODAY they were shocked by the nature of the conversations, particularly that ChatGPT was even capable of engaging with suicidal ideation and planning in such detail.

If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services.

Thanks for reading! See you back next week with more stories of justice from across the country.