The indictment of former FBI Director James Comey this week marks one of the most extraordinary turns in Donald Trump’s ongoing effort to wield the machinery of government against his political adversaries. And it’s already drawn sharp rebukes from Democrats, including Texas firebrand Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.

More Than a Clash of Ideals

Comey, who clashed with Trump in the early days of his presidency and refused to turn the FBI into what Crockett called his “personal plaything,” now faces two federal charges brought by a newly appointed prosecutor with no courtroom experience. The case has raised questions not only about its legal foundation, but also about what Crockett described as the president’s broader war on institutions designed to provide accountability.

Crockett Questions the Credibility of the Case

Crockett said in an MSNBC interview, “This is an opportunity for someone to make a name for themselves, because inevitably, if they are halfway competent, they should be able to win.” She noted that under federal law, defendants can push for a speedy trial, meaning the case could be tested in court within 60 days. To her, the bigger challenge for Trump’s team won’t be securing a conviction—it will be finding anyone credible willing to prosecute it.

If You Stand Up To A Bully You Win

Crockett, a former defense attorney herself, cast the charges as emblematic of a pattern. Trump, she argued, has long sought to intimidate critics, from media figures like Jimmy Kimmel to financiers like George Soros and Reid Hoffman, by dangling the threat of government investigations. Now, with Comey, she says that pattern has reached a new low. “I want the American people to know that when you stand up to a bully, you win,” Crockett said. “Do not back down. Do not bend. If everybody starts to bend, what is left of our democracy will be gone.”

Crockett Doesn’t See Grounds for an Indictment

Crockett’s comments show the stakes in this moment—not just for Comey, but for the rule of law. Crockett reminded viewers that even Democrats had their grievances with Comey, particularly over his handling of the 2016 election. But that, she insisted, was never grounds for criminal prosecution. “The idea that you would go after someone for political reasons—it’s appalling,” she said.

Comey Isn’t Taking The Charges Lying Down

Comey, for his part, has retained veteran attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, best known for prosecuting Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and serving as special counsel in the Scooter Libby case. Crockett predicted Comey would not take the charges lying down. “This is someone who absolutely will fight this to the end,” she said.

A Sustained Hostility to the Freedom of Expression

Whether the case breaks through with the broader public remains an open question. Crockett acknowledged that Americans may not follow the intricacies of the Justice Department or the fate of a former FBI director with the same intensity as they do late-night comedians or athletes. Still, she argued, it fits a longer trajectory—from Trump’s attacks on Colin Kaepernick to his more recent moves against regulators and judges—that reveals a sustained hostility to free expression and democratic limits. “You can’t call yourself patriotic while being okay with throwing out the Constitution,” Crockett said. “This is about more than James Comey. It’s about whether we’re still a country of laws, or just a country of one man’s will.”