Slippery Slope and the Dangers of Abuse of Power
Slippery Slope and the Dangers of Abuse of Power
You probably saw this news lead every news source this AM:
“STANDOFF: Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook last night insisted she’s going nowhere after Trump announced he was firing her with immediate effect. The president published a bombshell letter shortly after 8 p.m. telling Cook — who was appointed to a 14-year term by then-President Joe Biden in 2022 — that she was being removed from her position over (as yet unproven) allegations of mortgage fraud. The unprecedented move would give Trump a majority of appointees on the Fed’s all-powerful board of governors and — potentially — a vice-like grip on the direction of the independent central bank.”
Overview
What we’re witnessing goes well beyond partisan politics—it reflects a systemic breakdown in how power is used and abused by those in control of government. The emerging pattern is clear: institutions meant to exist as checks on authority have instead become tools of political retaliation. The latest example is the unprecedented attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook—a move universally understood to not be a legal matter, but a matter of political retribution. This is emblematic of a larger trend: when institutions operate with political independence, they become targets of retaliation for those in power to abuse their position to attack, rather than respected in lawful governance.
Going After Political Enemies
Dr. Lisa Cook: A respected Federal Reserve Governor subjected to smear campaigns and pressure because of her independent leadership in economic policymaking, and now the target of efforts to fire her outright.
New York State Attorney General Tish James: Facing a barrage of political retaliation and personal attacks.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA): Trump has repeatedly sought to punish one of his most vocal congressional critics, using his office to try to discredit and sideline an elected official for doing his oversight job.
As The Washington Post reported, the administration is targeting these officials with a chilling new tactic: leveraging mortgage-filing allegations—grounded not in formal charges but in politicized referrals from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)—as a weapon against, even triggering a Justice Department investigation. Legal experts have described this as a striking “escalation” in the use of regulatory tools for retaliation rather than oversight.
Each of these cases underscores the same theme: when officials uphold their responsibilities or are perceived to be a political enemy, they become targets of federal power abused by those in control of government for retribution.
Weaponizing Institutions
In Washington, DC, the National Guard has been deployed as leverage—particularly in response to potential 2028 challengers. This is not political theater; it’s a direct threat, warning rivals that dissent brings militarized consequences.
Federal judges themselves have described the searches and seizures happening in DC as “the most illegal search,” raising alarms about basic constitutional protections for everyday Americans being cast aside.
In just the last month, the administration has pressured Citibank and other private financial institutions to change their policies—a brazen use of financial regulation as a political weapon.
Previously, the Department of Justice pressured Citibank to freeze the accounts of EPA grantees without any evidence of criminality, showing a brazen willingness to weaponize access to the financial system.
The Bigger Picture
Taken together, this represents the most serious abuse of government power in modern history. No president, whether it be Donald Trump or a Democratic one, should be able to use law enforcement, financial regulation, and even the military as tools to punish political opponents. The through-line is unmistakable—every lever of government is being bent toward the president’s personal and political agenda and the impacts are being felt by everyday Americans.
A Window into the Pattern
Reporting from CNN reveals that this is far more than sporadic political attacks—it's a longstanding strategy of institutional weaponization. CNN’s latest analysis places moment-to-moment actions within a larger framework—showing how independent institutions are being targeted, not because of wrongdoing, but simply because they resisted political control. Further, CNN reporting has chronicled how this pattern extends across cabinet agencies, law enforcement, and regulatory bodies:
An emerging norm of political interference in financial regulation, with pressure being applied to institutions like Citibank to toe political lines.
A sustained campaign of punitive enforcement aimed at officials and agencies that prioritize institutional integrity over partisan loyalty.
Reporting and commentary have repeatedly highlighted this “institutional weaponization,” drawing a through-line that connects isolated incidents into a broader strategy.
Bottom Line
This isn't just a political moment—it’s a structural shift. AAGC sees a pattern emerging where independence itself is now suspect, and anyone standing apart from those in control of government are at risk of being their next target. We will continue documenting how these tactics amount to a redefinition of how government is meant to serve—and who it ends up serving.