On September 26, US President Donald Trump officially spoke out after the Department of Justice prosecuted former Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI) Director James Comey for false reporting to Congress in 2020.
Mr. Trump called this an important step in restoring justice and emphasized that the list does not stop here, there will be others.
The indictment against Comey alleges that he had given a false statement when he asserted that no one is allowed to leak information to the press, while in fact he had allowed a FBI colleague to contact the media through Professor Daniel Richman. However, many legal experts assess the prosecution file as quite thin, lacking details on specific evidence.
In his speech at the White House, Trump did not hide his intention to expand the list of people he considered "political opponents" who had tried to hinder his career. He has repeatedly urged Attorneyney Pam Bondi to investigate figures such as Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James - prominent Democratic faces who have repeatedly attacked Trump.
President Trump denied the accusation of abusing the legal system for personal revenge, asserting: "This is justice, not retaliation." However, the wave of criticism immediately rose. Democratic lawmakers warned that the prosecution of the former FBI Director could pave the way for a series of further political lawsuits, from congressional leaders, national security officials to the press and civil organizations.
This event is considered by many analysts to be a new escalation in the already tense relationship between the White House and the judicial system. The prosecution of a former FBI leader during Trump's term has raised concerns about the risk of "weaponizing" the law - turning legal tools into a means to eliminate political opponents.
The situation is further complicated as the US is entering a turbulent period with many hot documents: From foreign policy, controversy over the defense budget, to the race to the White House in 2028. In that context, the decision to prosecute Mr. Comey was likened to a "political shock", creating a dangerous precedent for the independence of the Department of Justice - a pillar that is considered a safe boundary between political power and justice.
The Ministry of Justice has not yet released further details about other investigations. However, Mr. Trump's statement shows that after James Comey, many officials who have faced him in the past may soon become the next target.
