Trump’s Justice Department indicts former FBI director James Comey

U.S. President Donald Trump has finally achieved what he wanted. Former FBI director James Comey — who Trump considers one of his worst enemies — has been charged with making false statements and obstruction of justice, the president announced on social media. The charges were filed less than a week after Trump issued an extraordinary public reprimand of Attorney General Pam Bondi to force the prosecution of his most detested adversaries. If found guilty, Comey faces up to five years in prison on those charges.

In a message on social media, Comey said he was innocent and expressed his confidence in the U.S. judicial system. “My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I am innocent, so let’s have a trial and keep the faith,” he said in a video posted on social media.

Trump’s announcement of the charges against his nemesis uses the same vindictive language he employed several days ago in his scolding of Bondi. After describing Comey as “one of the worst human beings” ever to walk the United States and “corrupt former FBI director,” he states that a grand jury has indicted him “for multiple illegal and illicit acts.” “He has been so bad for our Country for so long, and now he is beginning to have to answer for his crimes against our Country.”

Trump’s announcement echoes the same vindictive language he used several days ago in his rebuke of Bondi. After describing Comey as “one of the worst human beings” to ever set foot in the United States and a “former Corrupt Head of the FBI,” he announced that a grand jury has indicted him “for various illegal and unlawful acts.” “He has been so bad for our Country, for so long, and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our Nation.”

In a social media post, Bondi wrote: “No one is above the law.” “Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people.”

The accusations stem from Comey’s sworn testimony before Congress on September 30, 2020. At the time, the former official testified in a hearing about whether he had authorized a leak of information concerning the investigation into potential links between Trump and Russia during the 2016 election campaign.

Comey led the FBI when Trump came into power in his first term in 2017, but Trump dismissed him that same year, just days after the official announced the opening of an investigation into those possible Russian ties. Since then, the former official has become one of the president’s constant political targets because of that investigation.

The indictment was filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, where the prosecutor investigating the case, Erik Siebert, resigned last week amid the pressure to seek an indictment of Comey. Siebert, having decided there was not enough evidence to suggest Comey had committed any crime, was immediately replaced by Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s former personal attorney, who in recent months had worked as an adviser in the White House. Halligan, a specialist in insurance law, was sworn in on Monday. She has no experience as a prosecutor.

One of the main reasons for the Justice Department’s sudden rush in this case was that, unless someone moved within a week, the alleged crime would expire on October 1, on the five-year anniversary of the events.

Siebert’s refusal to bring charges triggered one of the most extraordinary tweets ever written by a U.S. president. Extraordinary for its tone — somewhere between paternal and schoolteacher — and for its content. Without any reservation, in flagrant violation of the separation of powers that prevents the head of state from interfering in the affairs of justice — and of the Department of Justice — Trump demanded that Bondi do everything in her power to bring Comey and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff — who led one of the impeachment proceedings against Trump during his first term — to trial. Trump also demanded charges be brought against New York Attorney General Letitia James, who had sued the Republican and his company, the Trump Organization, for fraud. James won the case.

“Pam: I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, ‘same old story as last time, all talk, no action,” he posted. “What about Comey, Adam ‘Shifty’ Schiff, Leticia??? They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done.”

The message continued: “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”

That same day, Trump told reporters: “If they’re not guilty, that’s fine. If they are guilty, or if they should be judged, they should be judged. And we have to do it now.”

Earlier this week, prosecutors presented to Halligan a very detailed memorandum recommending not to charge Comey with making false statements and obstruction of justice, according to ABC television. The investigation opened against the former official had failed to find a solid indication that a crime had been committed — something that would not only make a conviction impossible, but also make a grand jury reluctant to bring charges.

Halligan, however, took the case to a grand jury in Alexandria in northeast Virginia, which indicted Comey on both charges.

The alleged suspicions against the former FBI director arise from a question by Senator Ted Cruz during that Comey appearance before a Senate committee, about whether he had leaked information about the investigations into the alleged Russian connection. Comey said that he had “never” been an anonymous source of information about the probe into the president.

“So your testimony is you’ve never authorized anyone to leak?” Cruz asked, noting that former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe had said Comey had authorized him to leak information to The Wall Street Journal. “Again, I’m not going to characterize Andy’s testimony, but mine is the same today [as it was in 2017],” Comey responded.

Since his dismissal from the FBI, Comey became a prominent critic of the president, whom he has characterized as “morally unfit” to hold office.

Comey’s firing led to the appointment of former FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel overseeing the investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election. That investigation found many contacts between Trump’s campaign and Russian officials, but concluded there was not enough evidence to establish that there was any illegal conspiracy.

Trump declared at the time that that investigation was a “witch hunt,” and has since tried to undermine the conclusions of the FBI and U.S. intelligence services’ investigations into Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential campaign, in which Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.

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