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” I would call that prosecution for self enrichment.”

I agree. There is a doctrine in the legal world called “unclean hands”.

Unclean Hands Doctrine

An equitable defense that bars relief to a party who has engaged in inequitable behavior (including fraud, deceit, unconscionability, or bad faith) related to the subject matter of that party’s claim. The unclean hands doctrine is also known as the “clean hands doctrine” and the “dirty hands doctrine.” The unclean hands doctrine typically applies only to equitable claims such as requests for injunctive relief or specific performance, but some jurisdictions permit it as a defense to legal claims as well.

Although the unclean hands doctrine is typically an affirmative defense asserted by a defendant, it may also be asserted by a plaintiff in opposition to an equitable defense such as estoppel.

General immoral or corrupt conduct is not enough to warrant application of the unclean hands doctrine. To prevail, a party must demonstrate that its opponent engaged in inequitable behavior that is related to the subject matter of the litigation.

In layman’s terms:

The unclean hands doctrine applies to the parties in cases where the plaintiff has acted unethically in connection to the circumstances that have led to the suit. Its intent is to keep a person from abusing the justice system in order to benefit from a situation they created by acting in bad faith.

This usually applies in civil litigation but can be applied in some criminal prosecutions as well. As in a case in which the criminal prosecutor benefits financially or professionally by pursing a case against a defendant.