Democratic lawmakers are sounding alarms over what they describe as a dangerous politicization of the justice system, after former FBI Director James Comey was indicted in Virginia on charges of making false statements to Congress.
Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett sharply criticized the move during an MSNBC interview, calling it an abuse of power driven by the Trump administration.
“I am so appalled at those who took an oath,” Crockett said. “Even as Democrats, we had our fair share of issues with James Comey. But that’s not a reason to prosecute someone. This is a political prosecution, pure and simple. It is a really dark, sad, scary day for America.”
Background on the Indictment
Comey, who has long been a target of President Donald Trump’s criticism, was charged with lying to Congress in 2020 about whether he authorized the leak of classified information to the press. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.
The indictment came just days after Trump publicly demanded that top federal officials intensify investigations into his political opponents. In a video statement, Comey said he is innocent and expressed “great confidence in the federal judicial system.”
Trump, by contrast, welcomed the indictment, portraying it as long-overdue accountability for an adversary who clashed with him throughout his presidency.
Crockett: “We Are Already in Authoritarianism”
Crockett argued that the indictment represents a direct assault on democratic norms.
“The President of the United States ordered criminal charges against an individual who happens to be a political adversary and a critic of him,” she said in an interview with MSNBC. “What Donald Trump wants to do is sow fear throughout the country. He wants people to shut up. He wants people to go away. And we all need to stand up against this bullying.”
Crockett, a former attorney, also criticized the legal basis for the case.
“You follow the facts before you indict someone for a crime. You do not indict them and then say, ‘Now we’ve got to go look for some facts.’ This is a complete political hatchet job,” she said, adding that federal judges in Virginia are unlikely to “dignify this political persecution in any way.”
Growing Democratic Pushback
Crockett’s remarks echo growing concern among Democrats that Trump is using the Department of Justice as a weapon against critics, a move they warn could erode public faith in the judicial system.
“Anybody who thinks we’re on the way to authoritarianism is wrong,” Crockett warned. “We are there. And these are all examples of it.”
The indictment of Comey is expected to set off a fierce legal battle that will test both the independence of the judiciary and the resilience of America’s democratic institutions.
