August 22, 2024: Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center.
Vice President Kamala Harris voiced sharp criticism of President Donald Trump’s Justice Department after the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, calling the move “painful to see” during a stop on her national book tour.
Speaking to CNN on Friday in Washington, Harris said the charges against Comey confirmed her long-standing concerns about Trump’s approach to law enforcement. “It’s frustrating, but more than that, it’s painful to see,” Harris said. “I mean what’s happening with Comey: Are you kidding me? The United States Department of Justice?”
The indictment came after Trump publicly pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi and installed a new U.S. attorney in the district where Comey was charged, moves critics have called politically motivated. For Harris, a former prosecutor and attorney general of California, the case strikes at the heart of her professional identity.
“He said it; we knew he would do it,” Harris told CNN. “But it is every day unrelenting.” She pointed to Trump’s repeated social media demands for prosecutions of perceived opponents as evidence of a pattern, suggesting the indictment of Comey was the fulfillment of a promise Trump made during his campaign.
The charges against Comey, who has denied wrongdoing, are part of a wider pattern of retribution in Trump’s second term. According to reporting by the Associated Press, Trump has also sought investigations of state attorneys general, federal judges, and political critics. This raises concerns among lawmakers about the independence of the Justice Department.
Harris claimed the issue is less about politics than principle. “It hurts to see,” she said, emphasizing that the justice system should never be used as a tool for personal or political vendettas.
Comey himself released a video statement declaring his innocence and expressing confidence in the federal courts, while Trump celebrated the indictment on Truth Social by posting “JUSTICE IN AMERICA!”
As Harris continues her 107 Days book tour, the Comey indictment has become one of several legal issues drawing her attention on the national stage.
Source: CNN, Associated Press
