A prominent former FBI director is facing renewed legal attention. CBS News reports that the Justice Department is taking steps to charge James Comey again. The story was posted about five hours before I fetched the page, and I have only seen the headline, so I do not know which charges are being considered, what happened to the earlier case or what evidence prosecutors say they have. The word again indicates that there was a previous attempt.
Taking steps to charge someone can mean several things, such as presenting a case to a grand jury, drafting charges or seeking approval from senior officials. It does not mean that an indictment has been returned or that the person is guilty. Mr. Comey, like any person under investigation, is entitled to the presumption of innocence and to legal representation, and he has the right to respond.
The report comes alongside another CBS story that a judge has ruled that Maurene Comey, his daughter, was unlawfully fired from the Justice Department. Whether the two are connected is not clear from the headlines, and I would avoid assuming so. The cases together show how legal and political disputes involving the department are drawing close attention, particularly in the weeks before midterm elections.
For readers, it is useful to separate reporting from commentary. Supporters and critics of the administration may interpret such news in very different ways, and the facts will be established through court filings and official statements. Watch for the filing of any indictment, the response from Comey's lawyers and the courts' handling of any motions. Legal processes can take a long time, and the first reports are often incomplete.
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