Senator Accuses Comey Critic of Political Motives
Senator Tim Kane (D-Va.) has called out James Comey, who critiqued Attorney General Pam Bondy for pressing charges against him, emphasizing a lack of solid evidence backing the claims.
“We need to find some facts before proceeding with an indictment,” Kane said during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Briefing” late Thursday.
He characterized Bondy’s remarks as a “political hatch job,” expressing concern that judges in the Eastern District of Virginia may react strongly against what he perceives as political persecution from the Trump administration.
On the same day that Bondy released her statement, the Department of Justice (DOJ) pledged to “follow the facts” in their pursuit of the case against Comey.
“No one is above the law,” Bondy asserted. “Today’s indictment demonstrates our commitment to holding individuals in power accountable for misleading the American people. We are diligent in following the facts in this case.”
Comey faces two main allegations: providing false statements during a Senate testimony in 2020 and potentially misleading information related to Trump’s investigation and alleged interference in the 2016 elections.
If convicted, the former FBI director, dismissed in 2017, could face up to five years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Recently, the district’s former U.S. attorney resigned under pressure from the Trump administration and filed charges against New York Attorney General Leticia James for alleged mortgage fraud. Former White House lawyer Lindsay Harrigan has stepped in to temporarily fill the role.
Kane claimed that Harrigan’s appointment is legally questionable, which might influence the charges against Comey.
“I think there’s a motion to dismiss this as a malicious prosecution, especially since it’s unclear whether these U.S. lawyers have the legal standing to pursue this,” Kane remarked during his discussion with Jen Psaki, a former White House press secretary.
“There’s a provision allowing the DOJ to appoint interim prosecutors for up to 120 days until vacancies are filled,” he explained. “Now that that time has lapsed, only a district court judge can approve new appointments for U.S. lawyers.”
“Comey’s legal team seems to have multiple grounds to challenge this case,” Kane noted.
In a recent video, the former FBI director maintained his innocence, stating, “My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have strong faith in the federal justice system, and I am innocent. Let’s proceed to a trial.”
Comey also reflected on the personal toll: “My family and I have known for years that standing up to Donald Trump comes with a cost, but we couldn’t envision living our lives any other way.”
