WASHINGTON
The US criminal case against former FBI director James Comey shatters norms of independence in federal investigations and will face significant hurdles in court, according to legal experts.
But for President Donald Trump, the final verdict may matter less than the move to exact retribution against an official who investigated him and the warning to others he sees as political enemies.
Comey, who was indicted on Thursday on charges of false statements and obstruction of a congressional proceeding, led the FBI when it began an investigation into ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and the Russian government.
Comey has professed his innocence and vowed to fight the case in court.
Since Trump returned to office in January, he has used his powers as president to hamstring law firms that represented causes he dislikes, leveraged federal funding to force changes at universities and fired prosecutors who took part in investigations against him. He has also pushed for charges against former National Security Adviser John Bolton, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff.
When asked about the Comey indictment on Friday, Trump told reporters, “I think there will be others.”
The indictment marked the first time his administration used the power of criminal prosecution against a prominent adversary. It came after Trump openly demanded Comey face charges and called for the removal of a prosecutor who did not think the case was strong.
“The ripple effect from this is huge,” said Rebecca Roiphe, a law professor at New York University. “If you are someone who opposes the president or the administration or poses some kind of obstacle to its agenda, you are doing so at grave risk.” Justice Department leaders have depicted the case as a strike against political corruption and the improper use of law enforcement.
Trump and his allies have long claimed the Russia investigation was a politically biased effort to undermine his first administration.
“Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche denied that the Justice Department was pressured to indict Comey, telling Fox News’ “America Reports” that Trump “wants us to do our job.”
Legal hurdles ahead
The case against Comey faces several legal obstacles to a potential conviction, legal experts said.
