Attorney General Pam Bondi and several federal prosecutors are reportedly expressing significant concerns regarding the potential indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. According to sources familiar with the situation, an indictment could be announced as soon as Thursday. Bondi faces intense pressure from Trump, who is advocating for criminal charges against his political adversaries, similarly to actions taken against him in the past.
Attorneys within the Eastern District of Virginia recently drafted a memo outlining their reservations about pursuing an indictment against Comey. This memo indicates that Bondi has hesitations about the case, which centers on allegations that Comey made false statements during his congressional testimony regarding the 2016 investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election. Despite these concerns, sources suggest that Bondi believes it may still be feasible to bring forth an indictment.
Bondi's discussions about the case come after her dinner at the White House Rose Garden with Trump and other officials on Wednesday evening. The Justice Department has opted not to comment on the matter publicly, but ABC News was the first to report on the internal memo from the Eastern District of Virginia.
If Bondi decides to proceed, Lindsey Halligan, Trump’s former personal attorney and the newly appointed top prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia, is prepared to present the case to a grand jury. Halligan has been seen at the Justice Department multiple times this week, participating in discussions regarding the potential charges against Comey. However, she too has expressed questions about the viability of the case, according to insiders.
Trump has publicly and privately voiced his dissatisfaction with prosecutors who have pursued numerous criminal cases against him while he was out of office. He argues that in these instances, prosecutors charged him with whatever evidence they had available. Insiders have noted that Trump believes the Justice Department should present the strongest possible case against his political opponents and allow the judicial system to take its course.
“I just want people to act. And we want to act fast,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Saturday. “If they’re not guilty, that’s fine. If they are guilty, or if they should be charged, they should be charged, and we have to do it now.”
Some officials within the White House perceive Halligan’s eagerness to proceed with the case as a move to appease Trump, which could be a reason she was appointed to her role leading the Eastern District of Virginia. While several Justice Department officials have expressed concerns about the strength of the case against Comey, numerous political aides argue that if Trump can be prosecuted, then figures like Comey should face similar scrutiny.
“I’m always happy to talk about … Comey, who of course is corrupt, who has been engaged in vast amounts of illicit and unlawful conduct,” stated Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, during an appearance on Fox News. “It has to lead somewhere to accountability.”
Trump's trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has also publicly called for Comey to face imprisonment, citing various grievances from the Trump administration. However, many of these grievances have previously been examined by federal prosecutors, who found no grounds for charges. Navarro himself has a history of legal troubles, having served time in federal prison for defying congressional subpoenas related to efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
“There’s a lot of people out there who should be in prison in my judgment, and I think in the judgment of many people in the Trump Administration,” Navarro remarked. “James Comey’s at the top of that list now.”
This ongoing situation continues to unfold, with updates expected as the potential indictment against Comey approaches. CNN’s Britney Lavecchia contributed to this report.
