Trump hopes more opponents to be charged after Comey

AFP | Washington

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US President Donald Trump called yesterday for more of his political opponents to face criminal charges as he cheered the indictment of former FBI director James Comey and branded him a “dirty cop.”

The Republican’s comments step up an extraordinary, undisguised campaign of retribution against those who oppose him that defies decades of norms in US politics.

“Frankly I hope there are others,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about Comey’s indictment on Thursday.

“It’s not revenge. It’s also about the fact that you can’t let this go on.”

Presidents have historically bent over backward -- at least in public -- to show clear separation between the White House and the Justice Department. Trump has smashed that precedent, making clear he intends to influence Comey’s case -- and others.

Comey was charged with making false statements and obstruction of justice in connection with the probe he conducted into whether Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election.

“He’s a dirty cop, he’s always been a dirty cop,” Trump told reporters about Comey, echoing an earlier post on his Truth Social network in which he declared him guilty.

The charges against the former FBI chief came days after Trump publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey and others he sees as enemies.

They included Leticia James, who as New York’s state prosecutor brought a civil fraud case against Trump, and California Senator Adam Schiff, who led the prosecution at the president’s first impeachment in 2019.

Asked who would be next for prosecution, Trump said: “It’s not a list, but I think there will be others.”

Trump has used his office since returning to power in January to pressure a huge variety of individuals and institutions that either opposed him in the past or, as in the case of several media outlets, had sought to maintain their independence from him.