Former FBI Director James Comey will be represented by former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in his case involving charges of false statement and obstruction of justice, according to reports shared between 1:36 AM and 2:06 AM UTC on September 26th, 2025. Fitzgerald, who served as U.S. Attorney in Chicago under both the Bush and Obama administrations and investigated the 2003 leak of CIA officer Valerie Plame's identity, is considered a highly regarded former Department of Justice official. The judge assigned to Comey's case, Michael Nachmanoff, is a Biden appointee who received confirmation with support from three Republican senators: Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski. Senator Collins, in comments made during the reporting window, stated that prosecutors should be dedicated to truth and not political animus, referencing the President's explicit statements over the weekend. Another commentator noted that surprise at the President's animus towards Comey would be unwarranted, given Comey's tenure at the helm of a "weaponized DOJ" during the Trump administration. This legal action against Comey, who has maintained his innocence and labeled the charges a "political prosecution," comes amidst other developments. The White House X account posted "JUSTICE IN AMERICA!" in relation to the indictment. Senator Tim Kaine criticized the charges as "trumped-up" and accused President Trump of appointing "one of his personal lawyers" to influence the DOJ. FBI Director Kash Patel reiterated the FBI's commitment to accountability, referencing the "Russiagate hoax." Previous reports from September 25th detailed President Trump's announcement of a 100% tariff on foreign pharmaceuticals effective October 1st, 2025, in response to companies not building manufacturing plants in America. Separately, a U.S. Air Force E-3C "Sentry" aircraft returned to Elmendorf Air Force Base after over five hours airborne, likely tracking a violation of the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone by Russian Aerospace Force aircraft. President Trump also met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in the Oval Office on September 26th. Additionally, video emerged of would-be Trump assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks dry-firing a handgun in his bedroom. Senator Tom Cotton stated on X that James Comey's alleged bias against President Trump "calls into question everything he did as FBI Director" and announced he is working with Kash Patel on a full review of Comey's FBI actions. President Trump also declared that "the soldiers who fought at the Battle of Wounded Knee will keep their medals."
