Former FBI Director Comey Indicted Again by US Justice Department

Former FBI Director James Comey Indicted by US Department of Justice

A federal indictment was issued against James Comey, the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), on Tuesday. The charges stem from a social media post made nearly a year ago, which officials claim constitutes a threat to President Donald Trump.

The indictment alleges that Comey knowingly and willfully made a threat to “take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon” Trump, as well as transmitted a threat in interstate commerce. The government maintains that a reasonable recipient familiar with the circumstances would interpret the message as a threat to do harm.

Comey had previously posted a photo on social media showing seashells arranged in the shape of “86 47”, which he claimed was not intended to be threatening. He stated that he opposes violence and took down the post after being informed that some individuals associate those numbers with violence.

This is not the first time Comey has faced prosecution related to his actions as FBI director. In November, a judge dismissed an indictment against him for lying to Congress during the investigation into Russia’s alleged election interference in the 2016 election. The same court also dropped bank fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The Justice Department is also pursuing a criminal investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan, who has denied any wrongdoing. Trump had previously called for the prosecution of his political opponents, including Comey, who oversaw the early days of an investigation into whether Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign had coordinated with Russia.

Source: Al Jazeera