Here we are again, left with no real option but to write about the erosion of the rule of law and its replacement with adherence to the whims of a fascist.
Late last night, the news broke that within a week of demanding on social media that the Attorney General of the United States get moving on indicting his enemies, the President’s wishes started getting fulfilled with the indictment of former FBI head, James Comey.
In case you missed the prologue, on September 20, 2025, Trump posted this to social media:
Pam: I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, “same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam “Shifty” Schiff, Leticia??? They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done.” Then we almost put in a Democrat supported U.S. Attorney, in Virginia, with a really bad Republican past. A Woke RINO, who was never going to do his job. That’s why two of the worst Dem Senators PUSHED him so hard. He even lied to the media and said he quit, and that we had no case. No, I fired him, and there is a GREAT CASE, and many lawyers, and legal pundits, say so. Lindsey Halligan is a really good lawyer, and likes you, a lot. We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!! President DJT
Immediate speculation was that he likely meant to send that as a direct message to Pam Bondi. Of course, media outlets who insist on “sanewashing” what Trump does at every turn did things like describe it as “something of an open letter.”
Also on September 20, Trump appointed Lindsey Halligan – a lawyer with absolutely no criminal law experience but a plethora of experience sucking up to Dear Leader — as interim U.S. Attorney for the E.D. of Virginia. She replaced an attorney who had been approved of by the judges of the district, Erik Siebert, but who resigned on September 19, apparently because he was unwilling to indict Letitia James.
Within 5 days of her appointment, Halligan personally signed the indictment of Comey and apparently personally presented “the case” to the Grand Jury. Depending on which version is the correct one (media reports today indicate she signed two different ones), the full charging document is either a page and a half long or maybe two plus pages. From the best I can decipher the one at the link below might not be the correct one because it includes the charge the grand jury rejected (if you have a spare 60 seconds you should read it).
gov.uscourts.vaed.582135.3.0.pdf
Even in such few words, the indictment still manages to appear to attribute quoted words to Comey that Comey may not have actually said during his testimony at the hearing being referenced.
There is significant speculation that no other lawyer in that E.D. Va. US Attorney’s office is willing to participate given how unusual it is that Halligan signed this herself. There are credible reports that Halligan had been presented with an internal memorandum explaining why there were not grounds to charge, and we know now that at least one member of the office has resigned in protest.
In the aftermath, Trump has been telling the media today (while blowing more of our taxpayer dollars to attend The Ryder Cup) that there will be others who will be indicted but, of course, he says there is not a list. Presumably, if Halligan was willing to advance the paper-thin indictment of Comey, she will readily pursue indicting Letitia James soon.
And while almost all of the blame for the erosion of the rule of law in our country can be laid at the feet of Pam Bondi for willingly treating her office as something it is not – personal counsel for the President — it can also be laid at the feet of all of the people – including lawyers – who are willingly continuing to be a part of a Department of Justice that no longer deserves the name.
(And I know there are some who advocate that it is important for the non-corrupt attorneys working for the DOJ to stay in place and try to do what they can from inside to fight back, but the first 8 months of the monstrosity that is Trump 2.0 appears to indicate that such a gameplan is not working.)