FORMER FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH LYING TO CONGRESS IN A CRIMINAL CASE FILED JUST DAYS AFTER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP URGED HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PROSECUTE HIM AND OTHER PERCEIVED POLITICAL ENEMIES. THE CHARGES MAKE COMEY THE FIRST FORMER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL TO FACE PROSECUTION IN CONNECTION WITH AN INVESTIGATION INTO RUSSIA’S ELECTION INTERFERENCE THAT TRUMP AND HIS SUPPORTERS HAVE LONG DERIDED AS A “HOAX” AND “WITCH HUNT” DESPITE MULTIPLE GOVERNMENT REVIEWS SHOWING MOSCOW MEDDLED ON HIS CAMPAIGN’S BEHALF IN 2016. THE CRIMINAL CASE IS LIKELY TO DEEPEN CONCERNS THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI, A TRUMP LOYALIST, IS BEING WEAPONIZED AS IT PURSUES INVESTIGATIONS AND NOW PROSECUTIONS OF PUBLIC FIGURES THE PRESIDENT REGARDS AS HIS ADVERSARIES.