‘Among the Worst Abuses in DOJ History’: Social Media Sounds Off on James Comey Indictment
(Ken Cedeno/Pool via AP, File)
Critics of the Trump administration blew up social media after news broke that former FBI Director James Comey had been indicted by a grand jury.
The indictment came after President Donald Trump unabashedly called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to get busy targeting his political enemies.
Richard Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration, called the indictment a clear example of the authoritarianism engulfing the United States.
The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell interviewed Ben Wittes with Lawfare, who called the whole situation “horseshit.”
MSNBC’s Ken Dilanian wrote that DOJ sources called the indictment “among the worst abuses in DOJ history.”
Journalist Max Burns wrote that in any other time in history, “this would bring down the entire White House.”
Comey was indicted on one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice for allegedly lying under oath to Congress. The 12 grand jurors reportedly declined to indict on additional charges.
Legal scholars have said that Comey’s attorneys could argue that he’s the victim of a ”targeted prosecution” and could use a post from Trump’s own Truth Social account as evidence. The post in question reads:
Pam: I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, “same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam “Shifty” Schiff, Leticia??? They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done.” Then we almost put in a Democrat supported U.S. Attorney, in Virginia, with a really bad Republican past. A Woke RINO, who was never going to do his job. That’s why two of the worst Dem Senators PUSHED him so hard. He even lied to the media and said he quit, and that we had no case. No, I fired him, and there is a GREAT CASE, and many lawyers, and legal pundits, say so. Lindsey Halligan is a really good lawyer, and likes you, a lot. 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!!! President DJT
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