James Comey Indicted as Trump Celebrates and Predicts More Cases
Former FBI director James Comey faces federal charges while Trump signals further prosecutions against critics.
Washington, September 26 EST: James Comey, the FBI director fired by Donald Trump eight years ago, is now facing the fight of his life. A federal grand jury in Virginia indicted him Thursday on charges of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional inquiry.
Trump’s Old Rival Pulled Back Into The Spotlight
Comey has always been a lightning rod. His firing in 2017 set off the chain of events that led to Robert Mueller’s investigation and the years of “witch hunt” politics that fueled Trump’s base. For Trump, Comey became the face of what he called a “deep state” conspiracy.
Now, with the indictment, Trump is savoring a moment he has sought for nearly a decade. He blasted Comey as a “dirty cop” and promised that “others” would face charges too. It was less the voice of a president celebrating accountability than of a man settling scores.
The Case Against Comey
The charges center on Comey’s testimony in 2020, when he spoke to Congress about how the FBI managed politically sensitive cases. Prosecutors say he misled lawmakers and interfered with their oversight.
Jurors did not sign off on every count. The Washington Post reported that they rejected a third charge, signaling unease about how far prosecutors were reaching. That detail matters: it suggests this is not an airtight case.
Comey has yet to respond publicly. His arraignment is expected within days.
A Judge In Trump’s Crosshairs
The case landed with Judge Michael Nachmanoff, a Biden appointee and former public defender. His assignment was random, as the courts always insist. That didn’t stop Trump from labeling him “crooked” and warning of bias.
It was a familiar tactic. Trump has long worked to discredit judges before trials even begin, ensuring that any ruling against him or for his rivals can be cast as proof of corruption. In this sense, the fight over Comey is also a fight over the credibility of the courts.
Fallout Inside The Justice Department
The indictment reached into Comey’s own family. His son-in-law, Troy Edwards, resigned from his role as a federal prosecutor in Virginia within hours of the charges. In his resignation letter, obtained by the Associated Press, Edwards said he acted “out of loyalty to the Constitution.”
That language spoke volumes. Edwards was distancing himself from the appearance of conflict, but also hinting at the strain inside the Justice Department. Career prosecutors now operate under extraordinary political pressure.
Bondi’s Line, And The Bigger Story
Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the move with a familiar phrase: “no one is above the law.” It is the kind of line every attorney general uses in moments like this. But few believe it will calm the political storm.
The indictment fits a larger pattern. Trump has pressed the DOJ to go after rivals and critics, from officials tied to the Russia probe to state prosecutors who once indicted him. To his supporters, this is overdue accountability. To his opponents, it is proof that the justice system is being weaponized.
Why It Matters
If Comey is convicted, he faces years in prison. But the verdict itself may matter less than the message: a former FBI director, once Trump’s chief antagonist, hauled into court under Trump’s second presidency.
The symbolism is impossible to miss. A man who opened the door to Trump’s biggest political crisis is now standing trial at Trump’s command.
That is why this case is bigger than Comey. It is a test of how much pressure America’s legal system can absorb before it buckles under raw political force.
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A political science PhD who jumped the academic ship to cover real-time governance, Olivia is the East Coast's sharpest watchdog. She dissects power plays in Trenton and D.C. without bias or apology.
