U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not pictured) in the State Dining Room at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 29, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Many pro-Donald Trump MAGA media outlets are applauding the federal indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, saying that "no one is above the law." But outside the MAGA bubble, the indictment is drawing a great deal of criticism.
In an article published by the conservative website The Bulwark on September 30, journalist Will Saletan offers a comprehensive timeline of Trump's own words — a timeline that, Saletan emphasizes, shows how weak the case against Comey is.
Saletan's timeline spans May 15-September 25, and according to the Bulwark writer, clearly demonstrates that the charges are "based on animus" — not concern for the rule of law — and would never have been filed without that "animus." Comey is accused of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding.
Trump's "animus" against Comey, Saletan notes, was evident when, on May 15, he accused the former FBI director of calling for his assassination.
Saletan explains, "Comey posted a picture of shells that had been arranged on a beach to say '8647'…. The '47' referred to Trump, the 47th president. Meanwhile, '86' has traditionally meant to abandon or give up on something; it originated in slang used long ago by restaurant staff. The next day, in an interview with Trump, (Fox News host) Bret Baier noted that Comey 'said he wasn't calling for violence.'"
Saletan's timeline goes on to note many other attacks on Comey by Trump, who described him as "crooked as hell" on July 9, said there was "absolute proof of guilt" on August 14, and told U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that Comey was "guilty as hell" in a September 20 post.
"Short of explicitly writing out the words 'indict Comey,'" Saletan argues, "it's hard to imagine a clearer command to indict Comey…. Even without further investigation, the timeline shows that Trump was driven by animus against Comey and that Trump's animus forced the indictment…. The evidence against Comey is embarrassingly weak. If this case goes to trial, he should win acquittal easily."
Will Saletan's full article for The Bulwark is available at this link.