In a recent interview, President Trump staunchly defended the actions of his Justice Department concerning the indictments of several political adversaries, dismissing any notions that these actions were acts of retribution.

During a conversation with Norah O’Donnell on CBS News’s “60 Minutes,” Trump asserted, “No, it’s the opposite. I think I’ve been very mild-mannered.” This statement was part of an interview released on Sunday, where Trump delved into his perspective on the legal challenges he has faced.

Reflecting on his own experiences, Trump remarked, “You’re looking at a man who was indicted many times, and I had to beat the rap. Otherwise, I couldn’t have run for president. They tried to get me not to run for president by going after me and by indicting me.”

O’Donnell challenged Trump regarding the indictments of prominent figures such as former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and former national security adviser John Bolton—each a notable critic of Trump’s presidency.

In response, Trump denied directing the Justice Department to target these individuals, implying that such actions were not necessary from his position. His comments suggest a belief that their legal issues were independent of his influence.

“You don’t have to instruct ’em because they were so dirty, they were so crooked, they were so corrupt that the honest people we have, Pam Bondi’s doing a very good job. Kash Patel’s doing a very good job,” Trump said, referring to his attorney general and FBI director.

Trump in September appeared to explicitly pressure Bondi to pursue cases against Comey, James and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and he said after Comey was indicted that he hoped there were others.

The president was indicted in four separate cases in 2023, and James brought a civil fraud case against Trump’s business in 2022.