What Next | Daily News and Analysis Trump’s Revenge Tour Is Here
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Sep 30, 2025 Ankush Khardori, a senior writer for POLITICO and former federal prosecutor, delves into the shaky legal ground of Trump's indictment against James Comey. He critiques the poorly drafted charges and discusses how they reflect broader rhetorical strategies of labeling opponents as corrupt. Khardori also highlights the tension between the president's power and flimsy legal cases, while outlining Trump's long-standing grudge against Comey. He warns Democrats against future retaliatory actions and stresses the importance of evaluating prosecutions on their individual merits.
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Reciprocal Branding Neutralizes Accusations
- Trump intentionally flattens accusations by reciprocating labels to neutralize attacks.
- Khardori calls this rhetorical strategy designed to make corruption charges meaningless.
Flimsy Charges Can Still Harm Democracy
- A flimsy case can still be dangerous when the Justice Department pursues politically motivated charges.
- Khardori warns that the president can weaponize the DOJ to file frivolous charges against opponents.
EDVA U.S. Attorney Resigned During Rush
- The U.S. attorney in EDVA resigned amid pressure over Comey charges, which coincided with the statute of limitations deadline.
- Khardori says they rushed to file before the five-year limit expired on Comey's testimony.