Legal Proceedings - Former FBI director James Comey faces two counts: lying to Congress and obstructing an official congressional proceeding [1] - He pleaded not guilty to the charges [1] - A tentative trial date has been set for January 5th [1]

Legal Analysis of the Case - The newly installed US attorney, Lindseay Halligan, with limited prosecutorial experience, personally presented the case to the grand jury [1][7] - Concerns exist regarding the difficulty in finding a seasoned prosecutor within the Justice Department to handle the case, highlighted by a resignation following the indictment announcement [1] - The indictment charges James Comey with lying to Congress and obstructing justice related to a Senate hearing 5 years ago concerning the Trump Russia investigation, specifically regarding a leak about the Clinton Foundation investigation [1] - The Inspector General investigation found that Andrew McCabe lacked candor but did not find that James Comey authorized the leak, only that he was aware of it [1] - Questions arise regarding new evidence presented to the grand jury, as the public record does not obviously support the claim that Comey lied to Congress [1] - A special counsel, John Durham, previously investigated the Trump Russia investigation and did not charge James Comey with related issues [1] Ethical and Procedural Concerns - The fact that Lindseay Halligan, with limited experience, took the case to the grand jury herself is considered extraordinary and deviates from standard practice [7] - The inability to find an assistant US attorney within the office to support the case suggests its weakness and potential ethical issues [7][9] - The US attorney signing the indictment alone, instead of trusting experienced professionals, is unusual and indicates a lack of confidence in the case [8] Political Context - Commentary suggests the indictment is driven by a desire to punish James Comey for his role in the Trump Russia investigation, rather than being solely based on the specific charges [1] - There is a perception that some individuals within the administration may be acting against their better judgment and legal ethics due to political pressure [5] - Concerns exist that prosecutors may be hesitant to participate in the case due to potential future accountability [5][6]

Legal & Political Developments - MSNBC reports former FBI Director James Comey is expected to be indicted in the coming days, potentially on allegations of lying to Congress in 2020 [1][3] - The indictment is expected to come out of the Eastern District of Virginia [1] - President Trump previously removed a prosecutor from the Eastern District of Virginia, arguing they were not moving fast enough on cases against his political opponents [1] - President Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to proceed with cases against James Comey and others via social media [2] - President Trump expressed frustration over the lack of action against James Comey, Adam Schiff, and Leticia [3]