Behar says she’s glad Trump targeted Comey as Comey faces indictment

A DAY OF SHOCK AND CONTRAST unfolded Thursday as Joy Behar, a longtime host on The View, said she was pleased President Donald Trump was pursuing former FBI Director James Comey in court. Behar, known for liberal commentary, surprised her co-panelists by saying she agreed with Trump on this one because Comey had previously criticized Hillary Clinton in a way Behar described as damaging to the Democrat’s 2016 campaign. “You know, I don’t like Comey. I agree with Trump on this one… I don’t like what he did to Hillary,” Behar said, referencing Comey’s letter about Clinton’s use of a personal email server just before the 2016 election. She added that she did not advocate prosecuting Comey herself, but noted she rarely finds common ground with Trump on policy and politics.

The indictment against Comey, charging him with lying to Congress, was announced days after Trump publicly pressed Attorney General to pursue investigations into Comey and other perceived political enemies. Officials said the filing marks Comey as the first former senior government official tied to the Russia investigation to face criminal charges. The probe, long a fixture in Trump’s political rhetoric, has been described by Trump and many supporters as a partisan hoax; government reviews have repeatedly found evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 campaign, though opinions differ on the extent of involvement and impact.

The indictment highlighted broader questions about how the Justice Department is perceived to be operating in politically charged environments. The White House has asserted that the department should pursue legal accountability for public figures, while critics have warned that prosecutions of political adversaries could blur lines between law enforcement and partisan objectives. In the days leading up to the filing, the office in the Eastern District of Virginia that brought the case experienced internal shakeups, including the resignation of chief prosecutor Erik Siebert, a development that added to concerns about prosecutorial independence in high-profile investigations.

Trump quickly reacted to the indictment, praising what he called “JUSTICE FOR AMERICA!” and linking the case to his broader grievances with the Russia inquiry. He also used his Truth Social platform to reiterate his belief that the investigations into his associates and foes had not yielded sufficient prosecutions. Bondi, a Trump loyalist who has long been a vocal defender of the president, issued a statement echoing the sentiment that no one is above the law. FBI Director Christopher Wray’s public comments on the matter were less prominent in the immediate coverage, as the political narrative focused on the indictment’s implications for accountability and the perception of political influence over the department.

Comey responded to the charges with a video posted to social media, saying he was heartbroken for the Department of Justice but expressing confidence in the federal judicial system and declaring himself innocent. “Let’s have a trial,” he said, signaling his readiness to contest the allegations in court. Since his firing during Trump’s first term, Comey has remained a symbolic figure in debates about government conduct and the Russia investigation, which Trump has repeatedly labeled a “hoax” and a “witch hunt.” His indictment, the first against a former senior official in the Russia-related inquiries tied to Trump, is likely to intensify debates over prosecutorial discretion and political impartiality within the department.

The broader political implications of the case continue to unfold as observers watch for how the DOJ maintains independence while the presidency remains closely involved in high-stakes investigations. The appointment of Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide described as a longtime ally of Trump who had previously worked as a lawyer for the president, to lead the defense in the case further fueled concerns among critics about the department’s autonomy. Halligan has not previously served as a federal prosecutor, a detail cited by some analysts as potentially shaping how the case is managed in the courtroom. Supporters argue Halligan brings loyalty and political experience to the prosecution, while opponents warn that such appointments could politicize prosecutorial decisions.

As the legal process unfolds, Comey’s own remarks emphasized faith in the judicial system and a commitment to a fair trial. He signaled readiness to defend himself against the charges, which, if proven in court, would mark a significant turn in the long-running controversy surrounding the investigation of Russian interference and its intersection with U.S. political life. The case’s trajectory remains uncertain, but its arrival underscores ongoing tensions over accountability, the role of the attorney general, and the boundaries between political rivalry and the rule of law in American governance.