Former FBI chief Comey indicted, had investigated Trump and Russiagate

Comey, had been appointed director of the FBI in 2013 by Barack Obama. During Trump's first term in the White House, he had led the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, looking into possible links between Moscow and people close to Trump in the election campaign later won by the Republican leader against Hillary Clinton. Trump had then fired him in 2017, with the investigation still ongoing. The Russiagate scandal was then, in fact, put to rest with Trump's election, despite the evidence that had emerged about infiltrations and hacking attacks carried out by Russian services at the behest of Vladimir Putin.

Comey said he was totally innocent. "Someone I love very much said that fear is the tool of a tyrant, and he's right. But I am not afraid. And I hope you are not either. Instead, I hope you are engaged, paying attention, and voting as if your beloved country depends on it, as indeed it does," the former FBI director said in a video on Instagram. "My family and I have known for years," he added, "that opposing Donald Trump has a cost. But we couldn't imagine living any other way. We will not live on our knees, and neither should you." And again: 'My heart is broken for the Justice Department. But I have great faith in the federal justice system and I am innocent. So let's have a trial and keep the faith." The first hearing for Comey has been set for 9 October with Judge Michael Nachmanoff, appointed by Joe Biden.

Trump's authoritarian drift appears increasingly evident. For Norm Eisen - Barack Obama's ethics adviser, now an analyst at the Brookings Institution - 'Trump has ordered criminal prosecutions against political targets and the Justice Department is corruptly obeying. These are vindictive and unfounded prosecutions." set. (Adnkronos) - "This is about justice, not revenge." That's what Donald Trump said when responding to those who asked him whether the indictment of James Comey is part of a "revenge campaign" against his political opponents. 'I hope we'll have more,' he added, referring to his other indicted opponents. Trump campaigned hard on the Justice Department to get an indictment of the former FBI director, forcing the resignation of Virginia prosecutor Erik Siebert, who had ruled that there was no basis for action against Comey for perjury. In his place he appointed Lindesy Halligan, one of his loyal White House aides with no past experience in the judiciary, who within three days filed the request for Comey's indictment to prevent the statute of limitations for the alleged crime from running out next week. Along with Comey's indictment, Trump has long been clamouring on social media for the indictment of New York prosecutor Letitia James and Dem senator Adam Schiff investigated for allegedly defrauding a mortgage application. The former secured Trump's conviction last year in a financial fraud trial, while the Democrat led the first impeachment trial against Trump.