In yet another stunning example of political vengeance backfiring, former President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to weaponize the justice system against his critics has collapsed under the weight of its own baselessness.

NBC News has confirmed that a federal criminal probe into Senator Adam Schiff — once one of Trump’s fiercest adversaries during his presidency — has failed to turn up any credible evidence to support charges. The investigation, led by federal prosecutors in Maryland, was reportedly encouraged by Trump’s allies in an effort to punish Schiff for his role in leading the first impeachment inquiry against Trump in 2019.

According to NBC, “after months of investigating, the federal prosecutors in Maryland leading the probe have not produced enough evidence to bring charges.” The report effectively confirms what many legal experts and political observers have long suspected: the case was driven more by Trump’s personal animus and obsession with retribution than by any legitimate suspicion of wrongdoing.

A Political Vendetta in Plain Sight

The probe into Schiff was part of a broader pattern of retaliatory behavior by Trump, who has repeatedly sought to turn the Justice Department into a tool of personal revenge. Schiff, who currently represents California in the U.S. Senate, became a central target of Trump’s fury after spearheading the impeachment proceedings that exposed Trump’s attempt to pressure Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 election.

In response to the failed probe, Schiff’s attorney, Preet Bharara — himself a former U.S. attorney who was fired by Trump in 2017 — issued a blistering statement condemning the politically motivated investigation.

“It seems pretty clear that a team of career prosecutors have thoroughly reviewed the politically-motivated allegations against Senator Schiff and found they are unsupported by any evidence and are baseless,” Bharara said.

He continued: “The transparently vindictive effort to pursue the Senator has no merit, and if there is any justice left in the Justice Department, this should be the end of the matter.”

Trump’s Pressure Campaign Falls Flat

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly pushed Kelly Hayes, the U.S. attorney overseeing the case, to continue searching for additional evidence — a move critics describe as an improper attempt to keep a dead investigation alive. According to NBC, Blanche instructed Hayes to “go back and find more evidence.” But as one former DOJ official noted, “If they haven’t found anything after all this time, there’s nothing to find.”

That reality underscores a larger problem that has plagued Trump’s post-presidency behavior: his continued effort to intimidate, punish, and delegitimize anyone who has dared to hold him accountable. Trump’s vendetta-driven crusade now extends far beyond Schiff — it also includes New York Attorney General Letitia James, who successfully prosecuted Trump for financial fraud, resulting in his status as a convicted felon.

For Trump, the Justice Department is no longer a symbol of law and order; it is a political weapon, one he seeks to wield against perceived enemies. But the repeated collapse of these efforts — from failed prosecutions to dismissed lawsuits — demonstrates that not everyone in the system is willing to bow to his demands.

The Danger of a Weaponized Justice System

The implications of Trump’s behavior stretch far beyond the individual cases he seeks to influence. Legal scholars warn that his ongoing attempts to manipulate federal prosecutors and pressure state attorneys general threaten to erode public confidence in the impartiality of the justice system.

If political figures can target opponents for prosecution without evidence, the foundation of equal justice under the law begins to crumble. As former DOJ official Andrew Weissmann noted, “When a president or former president pressures prosecutors to invent crimes against political enemies, that’s not democracy — that’s authoritarianism.”

Even some within Trump’s orbit have quietly acknowledged the futility of his crusades. One former aide, speaking anonymously, told NBC that “these investigations are about ego, not evidence.” The aide added, “He can’t stand that Schiff got under his skin, so he wants to destroy him — even if it means abusing the system to do it.”

Schiff’s Response and the Broader Fight for Integrity

For Schiff, the failed case represents both vindication and a warning. In a brief statement posted to social media, he reiterated his belief that truth and accountability will ultimately prevail over intimidation. “When leaders try to corrupt justice, it’s up to us to defend it,” Schiff wrote. “The American people deserve better than a government weaponized for revenge.”

Indeed, Trump’s latest failure only adds to a long list of collapsed legal attacks — from frivolous election fraud claims to baseless investigations into his political foes. Each attempt exposes not only the weakness of his evidence but also the strength of the democratic institutions that continue to resist him.

Conclusion: Justice, Not Revenge

Trump’s relentless efforts to criminalize dissent and silence opposition have repeatedly run aground against the simple barrier of truth. Despite months of digging, prosecutors could not conjure crimes that didn’t exist. The message from the Justice Department’s career professionals is clear: facts still matter, and not even the most powerful can rewrite reality to suit their grudges.

As long as there are people inside the system willing to say “no” to power — as long as prosecutors, judges, and public servants continue to uphold the rule of law — Trump’s dream of a weaponized justice system will keep collapsing under its own corruption.

For now, Adam Schiff walks free — not because of privilege or politics, but because there was never a case to begin with. And that, ultimately, is what true justice looks like.